A Single Molecule of Water Encapsulated in Fullerene C60
Abstract
Water normally exists in hydrogen-bonded environments, but a single molecule of H2O without any hydrogen bonds can be completely isolated within the confined subnano space inside fullerene C60. We isolated bulk quantities of such a molecule by first synthesizing an open-cage C60 derivative whose opening can be enlarged in situ at 120°C that quantitatively encapsulated one water molecule under the high-pressure conditions. The relatively simple method was developed to close the cage and encapsulate water. The structure of H2O@C60 was determined by single-crystal x-ray analysis, along with its physical and spectroscopic properties.
- Publication:
-
Science
- Pub Date:
- July 2011
- DOI:
- 10.1126/science.1206376
- Bibcode:
- 2011Sci...333..613K
- Keywords:
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- CHEMISTRY