Direct Imaging ofSc2@C84Molecules Encapsulated Inside Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes by High Resolution Electron Microscopy with Atomic Sensitivity

Abstract

Intramolecular structure of the scandium dimetallofullerene ($\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{c}}_{\mathrm{2}}\mathrm{@}{\mathrm{C}}_{\mathrm{84}}$) has been clearly revealed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy with the single-atom sensitivity. Direct observation of two Sc atoms inside each fullerene molecule has led to a successful determination of the molecular symmetry among the three possible structural isomers for the $\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{c}}_{\mathrm{2}}\mathrm{@}{\mathrm{C}}_{\mathrm{84}}$. The present work introduces a new electron microscopic approach to investigate individual molecular structures and demonstrates the possibility for determining the molecular isomer on a single-molecular basis.