Synthesis of Fullerene-Containing Sol-Gel Glasses

Macroscopically homogeneous and visually transparent fullerene-containing glasses are fabricated from sol-gel mixtures of aminated C₆₀ derivatives and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) through physical blending and chemical reaction. The aminated fullerenes are synthesized by the amination reactions of C₆₀ with 6-amino-1-hexanol, cyclohexylamine, 2-(2-aminoethoxy)ethanol, and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane at 100°C under nitrogen. The amination products are purified by filtration, precipitation, and column chromatography and are isolated in good to excellent yields (32–82%). Characterization by NMR, MS, and TGA analyses reveals that the aminated fullerenes possess molecular structures H _x C₆₀NH(CH₂)₆OH] _x , H _x C₆₀(NH-cyclo-C₆H₁₁) _x , H _x C₆₀NH(CH₂CH₂O)₂H] _x , and H _x C₆₀NH(CH₂)₃Si(OCH₂CH₃)₃] _x . All the aminated fullerenes except 2 are completely soluble in aqueous alcoholic solutions of TEOS and can be incorporated into silica gel networks by sol-gel process in the absence or presence of drying-control chemical additives, giving crack-free monoliths of large sizes (up to 60 mm). Electronic absorption spectrum of the fullerene glass continuously red shifts with an increase in the C₆₀ content, suggesting the formation of fullerene nanoclusters in the sol-gel process. The fullerene glasses are thermally and optically stable, resisting continuous attack of strong laser pulses of 532 nm for a prolonged period of time without losing their optical limiting power.