title: DFT study on the stabilities of the heterofullerenes Sc3N@C67B, Sc3N@C67N, and Sc3N@C66BN.
abstract: On the basis of calculations using density functional theory, we investigated the relative stabilities of all isomers of Sc3N@C67B and Sc3N@C67N as well as those of stable isomers of Sc3N@C66BN. As a result, we predict that Sc3N@C68 can be doped substitutionally with a boron atom much better than C60. This effect can be ascribed to the favorable electrostatic attraction between the encased Sc3N cluster and the polar C-B bonds of the fullerene cage, which show the important role played by the encapsulated atoms in stabilizing the fullerene. A difference in the interaction also determines the regiospecificity of Sc3N@C67B. On the contrary, N-doping of the fullerenes forming Sc3N@C67N is much less favorable than that in C60 or C70. A judicious choice of stable isomers of Sc3N@C66BN among a vast number of possible isomers indicates that Sc3N@C68 can also be doped with a pair of B and N atoms better than C60 under the simultaneous existence of B and N sources. Relative stabilities of various isomers of the BN-substituted fullerenes can be understood in terms of the combined electrostatic effects in the B- and N-substitutions of Sc3N@C68 complemented by a specific local preference in the N-substitution and the formation of a B-N bond.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nano and Advanced Materials, College of Engineering, Jeonju University, Hyoja-dong, Wansan-ku, Chonju,Chonbuk 560-759, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Qiang
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Hong Seok
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D037741:Fullerenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D017672:Nitrogen Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D011789:Quantum Theory; D012538:Scandium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D037741:Fullerenes; D017672:Nitrogen Compounds; D012538:Scandium