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Noncovalent dyads of lanthanide nitride cluster fullerenes Ln3N@C80 and bisphthalocyanines LnPc2: A DFT Study
* 1 , 1 , 2 , * 2
1  The Institute for Applied Sciences and Technology (ICAT), National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Alcaldía Benito Juárez, CP 03100, Mexico
2  Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Alcaldía Benito Juárez, CP 03100, Mexico
Academic Editor: Sotirios Baskoutas

Abstract:

Diverse systems, including lanthanides (Ln; from La to Lu), are attracting increasing attention, particularly in the research and development of magnetic and luminescent materials. Among versatile lanthanide-based materials, lanthanide nitride cluster fullerenes (Ln3N@C80) and bisphthalocyanines (LnPc2) have emerged as promising candidates for advanced applications such as spintronic devices.

The formation of hybrids or dyads of carbon nanomaterials (graphene and carbon nanotubes) with LnPc2 enhances magnetic properties due to synergy between components. The Ln3N@C80 + LnPc2 dyads remain underexplored. So far, only different macrocycles, such as porphyrins, have been reported to crystallize endohedral fullerenes (EFs). This interaction can alter EFs' structures; however, the extent to which they can achieve this is unclear.

We performed DFT characterization to investigate structural and electronic changes in noncovalently interacting lanthanide (Ln = La, Ce, Gd, Lu) nitride cluster fullerenes and bisphthalocyanines forming Ln3N@C80 + LnPc2 dyads. Optimized geometries, formation and frontier orbital energies, HOMO-LUMO plots, the charge and spin of Ln and N(Ln3N@C80) atoms, and spin density plots were analyzed relative to isolated Ln3N@C80 and LnPc2.

Spin distribution is among the most influenced properties in these interactions. Changes are more evident in dyads with Ce and Gd than their La and Lu counterparts. The interaction of Ce3N@C80 and Gd3N@C80 with CePc2 and GdPc2 redistributes spin density, altering spin-up and spin-down electron orientations in encapsulated Ce3N and Gd3N clusters. This behavior could enable tuning of magnetic properties, enhancing their performance as Single-Molecule Magnets in spintronic and magnetic devices

Keywords: Lanthanides; endohedral fullerenes; bisphthalocyanines; density functional theory; geometries; electronic parameters

 
 
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