Structure,energy, and spin characteristics of La@C60-Lu@C60 lanthanide endofullerenes

Calculations of the equilibrium geometric and electronic structure of lanthanide endofullerenes are presented. Two types of the Ln@C₆₀ structure are found. For endofullerenes of the first type (La@C₆₀-Dy@C₆₀), the stable position of the lanthanide atom is achieved at a distance of 0.67R from the center of fullerene (R is the fullerene radius); in endofullerenes of the second type (Ho@C₆₀-Lu@C₆₀), the character of the interaction between the lanthanide atom and fullerene changes because of the transfer of unpaired electrons from the corresponding atom to fullerene. It is found that in endofullerenes of the second type, metal atom mobility increases, and two minima of the potential energy appear, which corresponds to the Ln position in the center and at a distance of 0.5R from the center. Based on the obtained spin density distribution for La@C₆₀-Lu@C₆₀ endofullerenes, we conclude that there is spin leakage.