Abstract: Systems and methods related to single molecule switching devices are disclosed. One example method can include the step of applying a tunneling current across a tunneling junction. The tunneling junction can include an endohedral fullerene that includes a fullerene cage and a trapped cluster or a trapped atom. Such a method can also include exciting one or more internal motions of the trapped cluster or the trapped atom based at least in part on the tunneling current, and changing the conductance of the endohedral fullerene based at least in part on the one or more excited internal motions. One or more electronic processes can be controlled based at least in part on the changed conductance of the endohedral fullerene.

Abstract: The invention relates to the fields of materials sciences and medicine and relates to an agent, which can be used, for example, as a contrast medium for the localization of cancer cells. The object of the present invention is to disclose an agent which sensitively and selectively recognizes the site and the type of the molecules or cells to be examined. The object is attained through an agent composed at least of bio-shuttle molecules to which endohedral fullerenes are coupled by way of peptide-based molecules, wherein the endohedral fullerenes are hydrophobic and correspond to the formula A3-xMxZ@C2n in which x=0 to 3 and n?34, A means rare earths and/or transuranic elements, M means metals, Z means non-metals and C means carbon. The object is further attained through a method in which hydrophobic endohedral fullerenes are coupled with bio-shuttle molecules by way of an irreversible Diels-Alder reaction with an inverse electron demand (DARinv).

Abstract: Method for synthesizing endohedral fullerenes it an arc reactor by burning off graphite electrodes, characterized in that the burning off is carried out in an atmosphere, which contains a reactive gas component, consisting of at least two elements, in an inert gas or inert gas mixture.