Alignment of the endohedral fullerenesN@C60andN@C70in a liquid-crystal matrix

Endohedral fullerenes $\mathrm{N}@{\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ and $\mathrm{N}@{\mathrm{C}}_{70}$ were dissolved in a liquid crystal and investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance. Sharp, liquid solution like spectra are observed. However, contrary to the usual solution spectra, the lines are split, indicating that the electron shell of the enclosed nitrogen atom is deformed and that an alignment with respect to the magnetic-field axis is achieved. The present results are of practical interest for controlling the interaction of endohedral fullerenes in a quantum computer.