Structural Deformation of Sm@C88under High Pressure

• We have studied the structural transformation of Sm@C88 under pressure up to 18 GPa by infraredspectroscopy combined with theoretical simulations. The infrared-active vibrational modes of Sm@C88 at ambient conditions have been assigned for the first time. Pressure-induced blue and red shiftsof the corresponding vibrational modes indicate an anisotropic deformation of the carbon cage uponcompression. We propose that the carbon cage changes from ellipsoidal to approximately sphericalaround 7 GPa. A smaller deformation of the carbon bonds in the area close to the Sm atom in thecage suggests that the trapped Sm atom plays a role in minimizing the compression of the adjacentbonds. Pressure induced a significant reduction of the band gap of the crystal. The HOMO-LUMOgap of the Sm@C88 molecule decreases remarkably at 7 GPa as the carbon cage is deformed. Also,compression enhances intermolecular interactions and causes a widening of the energy bands. Botheffects decrease the band gap of the sample. The carbon cage deforms significantly above 7 GPa,from spherical to a peanut-like shape and collapses at 18 GPa.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Den kondenserade materiens fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Condensed Matter Physics (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

endohedral fullerene

high pressure

calculations

infrared spectroscopy

molecular deformation

fysik

Physics

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)