Structural and electronic properties of pyrrolidine-functionalized [60]fullerenes

•Three recently synthesized fulleropyrrolidines have been studied by the DFT method.•They have found to be more conductive and soluble in water than C60.•The fulleropyrrolidines are n-type semiconductors.•The work function is mainly influenced by the pyrrolidine containing a 3NO2 group.•The conductivity is largely affected by the pyrrolidine containing a 3NH2 functional.

We have investigated energetic, geometric, electronic, and field emission properties of three recently synthesized fulleropyrrolidines based on the density functional theory method B3LYP/6-31G(d). Fulleropyrrolidines show higher conductivity, and solubility in water, and smaller work function in comparison with the pristine C60 fullerene. The functionalization of C60 with different pyrrolidines containing 3NH2, NO, or NO2 groups transforms it to an n-type semiconductor. The functionalization can also dramatically enhance the electrophilicity of the C60 about 23–37%. Moreover, it should be mentioned that the work function is mainly influenced by the pyrrolidine containing 3NO2 group whereas the conductivity is largely affected by the one containing 3NH2 functionality.