Metal nitride cluster fullerenes: their current state and future prospects

The world of endohedral fullerenes was significantly enlarged over the past seven years by the cluster fullerenes, which contain structures such as the M(2)C(2) carbides and the M(3)N nitrides. While the carbide clusters are generated under the standard arc-burning conditions according to stabilization conditions, the nitride cluster fullerenes (NCFs) are formed by varying the composition of the cooling gas atmosphere in the arc-burning process. The special conditions for NCF synthesis is described in detail and the optimum conditions for the production of NCFs as the main product in fullerene syntheses are given. A general review of all NCFs reported to date consists of the structures, properties, and stability of the NCFs as well as the abundance of the NCFs in the fullerene soot. It is shown that all cages with even carbon atoms from C(68) to C(98) are available as endohedral nitride cluster structures (with the exception of C(72), C(74), and C(76)). Specifically, the NCFs form the largest number of structures that violate the isolated pentagon rule (IPR). Finally some practical applications of these cluster fullerenes are illustrated and an outlook is given, taking the superior stability of these endohedral fullerenes into account.