Functionalization of [60] fullerene with butadienes: A DFT study

We have performed a density functional study on the reaction of C60 fullerene with one to six 2,3-dimethylbutadiene (DMB) molecule(s) which has previously been investigated by experimental researchers. Based on the obtained results, it has been found that (1) the reaction is regioselective, so that the DMB molecule prefers to be adsorbed atop a Csingle bondC bond which is shared between two hexagonal rings of C60 (in good agreement with the experimental results) with reaction energy of −0.98 eV; (2) the HOMO of DMB interacts with the LUMO of C60 via a Diels Alder reaction; (3) the energy of reaction and work function of C60 are decreased by increasing the number of adsorbed DMB molecules; (4) the HOMO–LUMO energy gap of C60 is slightly changed upon the reaction; (5) the reaction reduces the potential barrier of the field electron emission of C60 surface.