Review
Carbon Atoms Trapped in Cages: Metal Carbide Clusterfullerenes
- a School of Material Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, P. R. China
- b Department of Chemistry, Institute for Functional Nanomaterials, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR 00931, USA
- Received 15 July 2013
- Revised 23 October 2013
- Accepted 24 October 2013
- Available online 5 November 2013
Highlights
- •
An exhaustive survey of recent research progress of metal carbide clusterfullerenes (MCCFs).
- •
A detailed enumeration of structural establishments of representative MCCFs.
- •
Novel structures, intriguing cluster-cage interplays, and exohedral reactivity, Fascinating properties and potential applications.
Abstract
Metal carbide clusterfullerenes (MCCFs), which trap two carbon atoms together with metal atom(s) inside the fullerene cage, are a novel branch of endohedral metallofullerenes (EMFs). This review presents an exhaustive survey of recent research progress in MCCFs. After a detailed enumeration of the structural establishments of representative MCCFs, their novel structures, intriguing cluster-cage interplays, fascinating properties, and potential applications are highlighted. Moreover, a variety of new MCCF members are suggested for future identification.
