Spectroscopic analysis of C80 doping with group III and group V elements using semiempirical PM3 molecular modelling technique

Spectroscopic analysis of C₈₀ doping with group III and group V elements using semiempirical PM3 molecular modelling technique

Medhat Ibrahim^I,*; Hanan ElHaes^II; Ali Jameel Hameed^III; Ali Hashem Essa^III

^ISpectroscopy Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt

^IIphysics Department, Faculty of Women for Arts, Science, and Education, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

^IIIChemistry Department, College of Science, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq

ABSTRACT

Semiempirical calculations at the level of PM3 of theory were carried out to study the structural and electronic properties of C₈₀ and some of its doped derivatives with the elements of group III and V at the level of PM3 of theory. We have selected these elements to be substituted in the fullerene-C₈₀ cage in order to show the effect of such structural change on the electronic properties of the molecules studied. The theoretical IR spectra, some of physical and chemical properties of the molecules studied are obtained and discussed.

Keywords: hetrofullerene; C₈₀; final heat of formation; vibrational spectrum.

Introduction

In recent years there have been continuous studies to investigate the endohedrally [1], exohedrally [2] and substitutionally [3] fullerenes. The great deal of these investigations has been directed toward investigating the photophysical and electrochemical properties of fullerenes [4]. Significant efforts have been directed at the synthesis of functionalized fullerenes in which different atoms are covalently-linked to the fullerene cage [5, 6].

The introduction of heteroatom, such as Fe, Ni, Co, Rh and Ir, into the fullerene cage leads to significant modification in the electronic and structural properties of fullerenes [7, 8].These modified systems exhibit interesting superconducting, optical and electronic properties [9,10].

A variety of heterofullerenes have been reported, where in these systems number of carbon atoms have been substituted by heteroatom such as boron or nitrogen atoms [10-13] . The vast majority of these studies have been done on C₆₀ molecule. The electronic properties of such systems have been studied theoretically by performing the semiempirical and DFT calculations to understand the doping influences [13-15].

There are few reports about doped C₈₀. However, heterofullerene such as C₇₉N have been generated [16]. The fact that C₈₀, which in the empty case is an open shell system and therefore very unstable, also efficiently encapsulates rare earth metals, to form stable endohedrals M2@C₈₀, suggests, that the electronic structure of the fullerene shell is dramatically influenced by the central metals [17].

Currently, we are working on the molecular orbital theoretical calculations to predict the structures and behavior of some doped fullerenes. In previous work [18] the structural and vibrational properties of C₆₀ doped with Si, Ge and Al. In this paper, we have investigated theoretically the molecular and vibrational structures of C₈₀ and some of its doped derivatives with the elements of group III and V by performing the semiempirical calculations at the level of PM3 of theory.

Experimental details

All calculations were carried out on a personal computer, performed using semiempirical quantum mechanics package, MOPAC 2002 which is implemented within the CAChe Program (Full Version 1.33 by Fujitsu). The initial geometry optimizations of both C₈₀ and doped C₈₀ were performed with the molecular mechanics force field to obtain approximate minimum energy structures. The lowest energy conformations obtained by the molecular mechanics method were further optimized with the semiempirical, PM3 method [19,20].

Results and Discussions

In the present work PM3 is conducted to study the Vibrational spectra of fulleropyrrolidine-1-carbodithioic acid 2; 3 and 4-substituted-benzyl esters. The substituents include: NH₂, OMe, F, Cl, CO₂Me, COMe, CN and NO₂. We have selected these substituents to be in ortho, meta and para positions relative to the methylene group in order to show the effect of such structural change on the structural and electronic properties of the molecules. Vibraional spectra of each structure are obtained.

Calculated optimized geometry

Fig.1. shows the structure of C80 which doped with the elements of group III and V.

We have selected the elements of group II and V to be replaced with the carbon atom number 3 in the fullerene-C₈₀ cage. The geometry of C₈₀ and its derivatives are optimized at semiemprical PM3 method. Some of selected structural parameters (the bond distances, molecular dimensions and molecular point group) of the studied molecules are indicated in table 1 and 2. We have selected the bond lengths (D3-C2, D3-C4 and D3-C16) to show the effect of doping upon the structure of C₈₀. As mentioned in these tables, the molecular point group is not changed as a result of doping and remains corresponding to C1 point group. Furthermore, except C₇₉-N, all the studied structures have shown an enlargement in their bond distances as well as molecular dimension as compared with that of C₈₀. Regarding table 2, Group V doped fullerenes have shown an increase in the calculated bond distances ongoing from C₇₉-N to C₇₉-Bi. Table 1 shows bond lengths which decrease from C79-Al to C79-Ga following an increase from C₇₉-In to C₇₉-Tl. It is worth to mention that the structure C₇₉-B has no optimized geometry at this level of theory so that it is not included in the tables.

Final heat of formation

Figures 2 and 3 present the final heat of formation (FHF) as a function of temperature in the temperature range 200k to 500k for C80 as well as C80 doped with the elements of groups III and V respectively. FHF is treated in our previous work [18, 21].It is relative to the elements in their standard state at 298 K. As shown in Fig.2, C₈₀ indicates an increase in its FHF values as the temperature increases. Other doped fullerenes obey the same behavior. Comparing doped fullerenes with C₈₀ revealed that, doped fullerenes have lower FHF as compared with that of C80. Moreover the FHF of the group III could be arranged according to the following order:

C₈₀ > C₇₉-Tl > C₇₉-In > C₇₉-Al> C₇₉-Ga

Calculated FHF at Fig. 3 shows that fullerenes which doped with group V have higher FHF as compared with that of C₈₀. FHF is increased from C₇₉-N to C₇₉-As then decrease from C₇₉-Sb to C₇₉-Bi. Finally the FHF of the group V could be arranged according to the following order:

C₇₉-Bi > C₇₉-As > C₇₉-Sb > C₇₉-P > C₇₉-N > C₈₀

Charge and Dipole moment

As listed in tables 3 to 7; the charge, number of electrons, number of electrons in s-state and p-state as well as the dipole moment are calculated. Regarding C₈₀ the charge is nearly tend to zero with nearly 4 electrons distributed as 1.2 electron at s-state and 2.8 electron at p-state. The total dipole moment is 3.1017 debye distributed as -1.400, 2.350 and 1.475 in the x, y and z directions respectively. As the effect of doping the change in the carbon atom number 3 will be discussed. Al shows an increase in its charge to be 0.596 with a net number of electrons 2.4 distributed as 0.6 and 1.79 in s-state and p-state respectively. The value of dipole moment is twice as compared with that of C₈₀. Ga and Tl has nearly the same charge as Al while a negative charge of -0.065 is regarded in case of In. Al, Ga and In showed dipole moment value around 6.0 debye while it increases as 14.639 debye corresponding to Tl. Regarding the calculated values of group V the charge is 0.413, 0.929, 0.761, 1.048 and 0.872 respectively. Although the net number of electrons is around four there a difference in the electron distribution such that; at s-state 1.2 corresponding to N, 1.7 corresponding to P and As finally 1.9 corresponding to Sb and Bi. The remaining electrons are distributed in p-state. The calculated dipole moment was 1.917, 3.002, 2.297, 3.686 and 5.464 debye respectively. This indicates that, both C₇₉-N and C₇₉-As are lower than C₈₀. While both C₇₉-P has the same dipole moment value as C₈₀, C₇₉-Sb is slightly higher than C80. Finally C₇₉-Bi is higher than C₈₀.

Vibrational spectra

Fig. 4 and Fig.5 shown the active vibrational modes for C₈₀ as well as C₈₀ doped with the elements of groups III and V respectively. There are 174 genuine vibrations for C₈₀. As a result of the extremely high symmetry of C₈₀ there are only 4 strong vibrational bands; two weak bands in addition to two shoulders. The assignment of C₈₀ spectrum is aided by the program; by comparing the coordinates of each vibrational mode with that of the coordinates corresponding to the energy minimum. C₈₀ showed comparable vibrational characteristic to that of C₆₀. On these bases the spectrum of C₈₀ could be assigned. A C₈₀ line at 406.38 cm^-1 is assigned as the lowest frequency H_g "squashing"mode of Buckminsterfullerene. The A_g (1) mode was obtained around 581.67 cm^-1. The two strongest C₈₀ lines, found at 1011.95 cm^-1 and 1904.38 cm^-1, can consistently be assigned to the two totally symmetric A_g (2) modes. Two weak bands at 1537.85 cm^-1 and 1370.48 cm^-1 are assigned also as symmetric A_g (2) modes. The two shoulders were obtained at 693.22 cm^-1 and 1123.51 cm^-1. The first shoulder is asymmetric A_g (1) mode so that it’s too small. The second shoulder is assigned as asymmetric A_g (2) mode. The effect off doping on the vibrational catachrestic is varied from an element to another as in the following.

Regarding group III, an increase in transmittance of the doped fullerenes is regarded as compared with C₈₀. The four strong bands are not shifted; while the two shoulders are shifted toward higher frequencies. Furthermore the two shoulders became more obvious as a result of doping. The increase in the transmittance of the four strong bands -as a symmetric bands - and the increase in the transmittance of the shoulders -as asymmetric bands- match each other and keep the symmetry of the doped molecules unchanged.

Regarding group V, we could distinguish between two areas. The first up to 900.00 cm^-1 and the second beyond 900.00 cm^-1.

The transmittances of the C₇₉-P and C₇₉-As bands are lower than C₈₀; while the others are higher. In the second region all the bands have higher transmittance as compared with C₈₀. As the effect of doping the weak bands became stronger with a shift toward higher frequencies. The symmetric A_g (2) band is shifted toward higher frequencies while the other strong bands remain unshifted. The shift in the asymmetric A_g (1) shoulder became more obvious toward higher frequencies. Which is also notices for the second shoulder.

Conclusions

In this work we have studied the structural and electronic properties of C80 and some of its doped derivatives with the elements of group III and V by performing the semiempirical molecular orbital theory at the level of PM3 of theory. We have seen that no change in the symmetry of the doped fullerenes, while the molecular dimensions as well as bond distance were changed. Dipole moments of the doped C₈₀ with group III element are increased while that of group V is decreased except C₇₉-Sb and C₇₉-Bi. An increase in the total charge is recorded with net electrons in group III doped fullerenes. Although the number of electrons was around 4 the distribution of electrons in both S and p states are changed in group V doped fullerenes.

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Received 25 October 2007

Accepted 05 December 2007

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  21 May 2008
• Date of issue
  2008

History

• Accepted
  05 Dec 2007
• Received
  25 Oct 2007