Calculated relative yields for Sc2S@C82 and Y2S@C82

Abstract

The paper reports computations for a newly observed class of the mixed, sulfur-containing X2S@C82 metallofullerenes, namely for X = Sc and Y, based on encapsulation into the Cs and C3v C82 isolated pentagon rule cages. Their structural, vibrational, and energetic characteristics from the density-functional-theory calculations with the standard 6-31G* and LanL2DZ basis sets are used for the evaluations of the relative production yields. The encapsulation Gibbs energy terms from the partition functions combined with the observed saturated metal pressures are employed. A model scheme is used dealing with the XS template gas-phase presence. The computations predict that Sc2S@C82 should be produced in considerably larger amounts than Y2S@C82 which is in agreement with available observations. The yield order originates in the fact that both energetics and saturated metal pressure favor Sc over Y.