Overview
- Researchers synthesized Mg4C60 by forming covalent bridges between C60 cages, creating a layered polymeric framework that suppresses fulleride dissolution.
- Magnesium atoms generate intercage C–C bonds and [2+2] cycloaddition, transforming a van der Waals solid into a stable scaffold for reversible lithium storage.
- Electrochemical tests show a slope-type profile without phase transitions seen in pristine C60, with the bridged structure remaining intact during cycling.
- Structural and spectroscopic evidence includes XRD, TEM, XAS, solid-state NMR, in situ diffraction, and AIMD simulations supporting the proposed mechanism.
- The team plans to extend the approach to other carbon frameworks and to work with industry to assess scale-up and performance in practical cells; the study appears in JACS in December 2025.