Trimetallic Nitride Clusters Entrapped Within CnN Heteroatom Cages

摘要

The present invention is directed to a family of trimetallic nitride endohedral metalloheterofullerenes having the formula A_x X_3-x N@C_n N, (x=0, 1, 2 or 3) (n=number of carbon atoms in the cage, typically between 59 and 199), wherein A and X are metal atoms encased within the cage, C is carbon and N is nitrogen. A and X are preferably selected from rare earth elements or group IIIB elements. A or X metal atoms are scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, gadolinium, lutetium, holmium, erbium, thulium, dysprosium, neodymium, cerium, praseodymium and ytterbium. Representative embodiments include Sc₃N@C₇₉N, Y₃N@C₇₉N, La₃N@C₇₉N, Tb₃N@C₇₉N, Ho₃N@C₇₉N, LaSc₂N@C₇₉N, PrSc₂N@C₇₉N, GdSc₂N@C₇₉N, La₂ScN@C₇₉N, and Gd₂ScN@C₇₉N. The present invention is also directed to a method of making the inventive endohedral metalloheterofullerenes having the formula A_xX_3-xN@C_nN. These methods involve use of oxidizing gases (e.g. O₂ and NO_x) coupled with combustion as a means for making trimetallic nitride clusters encapsulated in heteroatom C_nN cages made of both carbon and nitrogen.