(Invited) Magnetism and Electrochemistry of Fullerene-Based Composites

Abstract

Endohedral metallofullerenes (EMFs), a negatively sp 2-hybridized spherical carbon surface containing alternating hexagons and pentagons doped with metal ion(s) or cluster inside, have attracted more and more interests owing to their unique nesting structures and alluring chemical/physical properties. Herein, we will discuss several typical spin-active endohedral metallofullerenes. To steer the electron spin of paramagnetic fullerene molecules, a solid-state spin system was constructed via encapsulating paramagnetic fullerenes into the pores of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) forming a EMF/MOF compostie, and an axisymmetric paramagnetic property was found. This kind of solid spin system can be used as a probe for nanoscale nuclear magnetic resonance or for motion imaging of a single biomolecule.Besides, as a representative allotrope of carbon, fullerene-based composite also exhibit fascinating electrochemistry, e.g., serving as electrocatalyst. In this work, a novel hybrid electrocatalyst comprising fullerene carbon dot (FQD)-decorated cobalt nickel layered double hydroxide (CoNi-LDH) nanosheets anchored on porous nickel foam (NF) is elaborately fabricated. The obtained FQD/CoNi-LDH/NF exhibits superior electrocatalytic activity for hydrogen and oxygen evolution as well as urea oxidation under ambient atmosphere. Both experiment and density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate that the charge transfer from FQD to CoNi-LDH could account for the excellent catalytic performance of the newly-synthesized catalyst, and the decorated FQD finely modulates the electronic structure of CoNi-LDH, favoring the adsorption of active hydrogen atom, and thus promote the catalytic process. The present work would provide useful guidance for designing and developing fullerene-based electrocatalysts for hydrogen production.