Endohedral fullerene

An endohedral fullerene is a fullerene cage enclosing an atom, ion, or molecule. The carbon shell can alter the enclosed species’ properties while shielding it from its surroundings.

Fullerene: A molecule made entirely of carbon atoms arranged in closed cages or related curved structures. Endohedral fullerenes are a specialized class of these carbon cages.
Charge transfer: The movement of electronic charge between atoms, molecules, or materials. Electron donation from an encapsulated atom can redistribute charge across the fullerene cage.
Magnetic resonance imaging: A medical imaging technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to form images of the body. Some endohedral fullerenes have been investigated as contrast agents because enclosed atoms can alter magnetic properties.
Helium@C₆₀: An endohedral fullerene consisting of a helium atom enclosed within a C₆₀ cage. It is a canonical example of a chemically inert atom trapped in a fullerene.
Exohedral fullerene: A fullerene chemically modified by atoms or groups attached to the outside of its carbon cage. Unlike endohedral compounds, its added species sit outside the cage.
Buckminsterfullerene: A spherical C₆₀ molecule whose carbon atoms form a cage of pentagons and hexagons. Its robust, symmetrical cage is a common host structure for encapsulated atoms.
Coulomb interaction: The electrostatic force between electrically charged particles. It helps govern the attraction between charged guests and the fullerene shell.
Quantum computing: Computing that uses quantum states to represent and process information. Long-lived spins of encapsulated atoms are studied as possible quantum information carriers.
Nitrogen@C₆₀: An endohedral fullerene containing a nitrogen atom inside a C₆₀ cage. Its trapped nitrogen carries an electron spin that can be studied spectroscopically.
Fullerene derivative: A fullerene chemically modified by addition, substitution, or other structural changes. Endohedral fullerenes are distinguished by internal guests rather than ordinary external functionalization.

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Richard SmalleyBroader topic: The cage chemistry opened a route to trapping species inside carbon molecules.