[en] Encapsulation of metal atoms inside carbon single-wall cages or within multi-layer cells has been realized using molecular precursors and high temperature processes transforming them into desirable structures. Endohedral fullerenols Fe@C₆₀(OH)_X with 3d-metal (iron) have been studied by SANS in aqueous solutions where they form stable globular clusters with radii R _C ∼ 10-12 nm and aggregation numbers N _C ∼ 10⁴. This self-assembly is a crucial feature of paramagnetic fullerenols as perspective contrast agents for Magneto-Resonance Imaging in medicine. Cellular carbon-metal structures have been created by the pyrolysis of diphthalocyanines of lanthanides and actinides. It was established that these ultra porous matrices consist of globular cells of molecular precursor size (∼ 1 nm) which are aggregated into superstructures. This provides retain of metal atoms inside matrices which may serve for safety storage of spent fuel of nuclear power plants. (paper)

[en] The parameters of an electric-arc facility for the synthesis of fullerenes and endohedral metallofullerenes are optimized. The resistance of C_6_0 and C_7_0 fullerenes and C_6_0(OH)_3_0 and C_7_0(OH)_3_0 fullerenols against neutron irradiation is studied. It is established that the radiation resistance of the fullerenes is higher than that of the fullerenols, but the radiation resistance of the Gd@C_2_n endometallofullerenes is lower than that of the corresponding Gd@C_2_n(OH)_3_8 fullerenols. The radiation resistance of mixtures of Me@C_2_n(OH)_3_8 (Me = Gd, Tb, Sc, Fe, and Pr) endometallofullerenes with C_6_0(OH)_3_0 is determined. The factors affecting the radiation resistance of the fullerenes and fullerenols are discussed.

[en] The endohedral metallofullerenols Me@C_2_n(OH)_3_8_–_4_0 + C_2_n(OH)_3_8_–_4_0 (Me = Tb, Sc, Gd, Fe, Pr, Mo) have been obtained and their radiation resistance under irradiation by a neutron flux of 8 × 10"1"3 cm"–"2 s"–"1 has been studied. The factors affecting the radiation resistance of endohedral metallofullerenols are discussed.

[en] Recent results on structural studies of aqueous solutions of water-soluble derivatives of endofullerenes encapsulating 4f- and 3d-elements have been presented. Neutron small angle scattering experiments allowed recognize subtle features of fullerenols assembly as dependent on chemical nature (atomic number) of interior atom, pH-factor and temperature of solutions. It was observed a fractal-type fullerenols’ ordering at the scale of correlation radii ∼ 10-20 nm when molecules with iron atoms are integrated into branched structures at low concentrations (C ≤ 1 % wt.) and organized into globular aggregates at higher amounts (C > 1 % wt.). On the other hand, for Lanthanides captured in carbon cages the supramolecular structures are mostly globular and have larger gyration radii ∼ 30 nm. They demonstrated a good stability in acidic (pH ∼ 3) and neutral (pH ∼ 7) media that is important for forthcoming medical applications. (paper)

[en] Endohedral metallofullerenes Me@C_2n (n = 30–50), their hydroxylated derivatives Me@C_2n(OH)_38–40 (Me = Tm, Ho, Eu, Sm, Co), and fullerenol С₆₀(OH)₃₈ have been synthesized The radiation resistance of these structures under irradiation in reactor by thermal and fast neutron fluxes in the fluence range of 1018–1019 cm^–2 (cadmium ratio of ~10) has been analyzed. Endofullerenols are shown to be more stable in comparison with initial endohedral fullerenes; the molecules containing Eu and Sm (atoms characterized by the largest slow-neutron absorption cross section) turned out to be most stable. The mechanism of the formation of secondary Eu and Sm endofullerenols is discussed taking into account the neutron capture and emission of γ quanta by excited nuclei, which acquire the recoil energy.

[en] Polytricyclononenes are new polymers having high permeability values not only for atmospheric gases, but also gaseous hydrocarbons. Thin films (≤100 μm) used in gas-separation membrane technologies are necessary to be studied to improve the gas transport properties of these polymers. The structure of polytricyclononene films with two vicinal side substituents Si(CH₃)₃ in a monomer unit synthesized via additive polymerization scheme is studied in this work by a small-angle neutron scattering method. As a whole, the amorphous film has a local orientation order due to chain fragments with spiral conformation. The size of the ordered regions is comparable to the length of units correlations in the polymer chain (Kuhn segment) and is 8–9 nm. Free volume and type of voids (pores) formed in the polymer film due to inhomogeneous packing are also found.