Electrochemistry of Sc3N@C78 and Sc3N@C80 (Ih):: On achieving reversible redox waves of the trimetal nitride endohedral fullerenes

Electrochemical behavior Of Sc3N@C-78 Solution was investigated for the first time by cyclic voltammetry (CV) as well as differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Reversible redox features Of Sc3N@C-78 were obtained in contrast to that of Dy3N@C-78, for which the corresponding redox waves were very recently found to be irreversible. Toluene/MeCN and four other solvents have been identified, wherewith reversible redox waves can also be observed for Sc3N@C-80 (I-n) at a normal potential scan rate, whereas o-dichlorobenzene (o-DCB) was found to give only irreversible redox behavior as concluded by other researchers. The redox properties Of Sc3N@C78 and Sc3N@C-80 (I-n) are comparatively discussed on the basis of their different electronic structures and interactions with the solvent molecules. Additionally, electrochemical energy gaps of both Sc3N@C78 and Sc3N@C-80 (I-n) were obtained. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.