Electronic structures of azafullerene C48N12

Two recently proposed low-energy azafullerene C48N12 isomers have been theoretically characterized using x-ray spectroscopies. The x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the near-edge absorption fine structure, the x-ray emission spectroscopy, and the ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy for both isomers have been predicted at the gradient-corrected density functional theory level. These spectroscopies together give a comprehensive insight of the electronic structure on the core, valence, and unoccupied orbitals. They have also provided a convincing way for identifying the isomer structures. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.