An open and closed fullerene cage holds a single molecule of water. Image credit: Angewandte Chemie.

Scientists have designed and built a container that holds just a single water molecule. The container consists of a fullerene cage and a phosphate moiety that acts as the cap to keep the water inside.

The researchers, Qianyan Zhang, et al., from institutes in Beijing and Germany, have published their study on the tiny fullerene cage in a recent issue of Angewandte Chemie. While previous research has shown that fullerene cages can be used to surround molecules, here the chemists also designed a way to close (and re-open) the cage to let a water molecule in and out.

One of the keys was making the cap the exact size to allow a single water molecule to pass through, and modifying the classic carbon-60 form of fullerene accordingly. Due to its chemical properties, the phosphate moiety used for the cap can be easily removed and re-attached to the edge of an orifice in the fullerene cage, and can sufficiently lock a single water molecule inside.

The tiny container could have applications in transporting small molecules or radioactive atoms for medical purposes and other uses.

More information: Qianyan Zhang, et al. "Switchable Open-Cage Fullerene for Water Encapsulation." Angewandte Chemie. DOI:

via: Qianyan Zhang, et al. "Switchable Open-Cage Fullerene for Water Encapsulation.". DOI: 10.1002/anie.201004879 via: Nature

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