Molecular mechanics on bonding and non-bonding interactions in (atom@C60)

The interactions between the embedded atom X (X = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs; F, Cl, Br, I) andC60 cage in the endohedral-form complexes (X@C₆₀) are calculated and discussed according to molecular mechanics from the point of view of the bonding and non-bonding. It is found from the computational results that for atoms with radii larger than Li’s, their locations with the minimum interaction in (X@C₆₀) are at the cage center, while atom Li has an off-center location with the minimum interaction deviation of ~0.05 nm, and the cage-environment in C₆₀ can be regarded as syhero-symmetry in the region with radiusr of ~0.2 nm. It is shown that the interaction between X and C₆₀ cage is of non-bonding characteristic, and this non-bonding interaction is not purely electrostatic. The repulsion and dispersion in non-bonding interactions should not be neglected, which make important contribution to the location with minimum interaction of X, at center or off center. Some rules about the variations of interactions with atomic radii have been obtained. Project supportt:d by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.