Energy stabilization of the -symmetry superatom molecular orbital by endohedral doping of C fullerene with a lanthanum atom
Energy stabilization of the superatom molecular orbitals (SAMOs) in fullerenes is investigated with the goal of involving their nearly free-electron bands in practical charge transport applications. Combining low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy-based spectroscopic methods and density functional theory calculations on an endohedral metallofullerene La@C82, we confirm that the s-SAMO of C82 fullerene is stabilized by as much as 2 eV with respect to that of C60 by endohedral doping with the La atom. On the copper metal substrate, the s-SAMO energy is further lowered to just 1 eV above the Fermi level, making the applications of s-SAMO state in transport more plausible. We conclude that in an endohedral metallofullerene, the s-SAMO state is stabilized through the hybridization with the s-symmetry valence state of the metal atom and the stabilization energy correlates with the ionization potential of the free atom.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab. (EMSL)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 1233795
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, Vol. 88, Issue 7; ISSN 1098-0121
- Publisher:
- American Physical Society (APS)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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