Physisorption of molecular oxygen on C60 thin films

The interaction of oxygen molecules with a fullerene surface has been studied using high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy and temperature programmed desorption. Vibrational excitation of the adsorbed oxygen is observed at 190 meV, an energy value comparable with that for molecular oxygen in the gas phase. We take this to indicate physisorption of molecular oxygen on the C(60) surface. Thermal desorption results also show that the bonding of oxygen molecules to the C(60) overlayer is comparable to that on a graphite surface. A detailed study of the energy dependence of the vibrational excitation reveals an inelastic electron resonance scattering process. The angular dependence of the resonant vibrational excitation exhibits features distinctively different from those for molecular oxygen physisorbed on the related graphite surface, at a comparable coverage. One possible reason is that the corrugated surface potential, due to the curvature of the C(60) molecules, promotes the preferential ordering of the physisorbed oxygen molecules perpendicular to the surface plane of the C(60) overlayer.     

Vibronic states in single molecules: C60 and C70 on ultrathin Al2O3 films

Vibronic states are observed in single C(60) and C(70) molecules by scanning tunneling microscopy. When single fullerene molecules are adsorbed on a thin layer of Al(2)O(3) grown on a NiAl(110) substrate, equally spaced features are observed in the differential conductance (dI/dV), which are clearly resolved in d(2)I/dV(2) spectra. These features are attributed to the vibronic states of the molecule. The vibronic progressions are sensitive to the molecular orientations and can have different spacings in different electronic bands of the same molecule. For C(60,) these vibronic states are associated with the intramolecular A(g) and H(g) vibrational modes. Vibronic states are not resolved in molecules adsorbed on the metal surface. However, inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy exhibits a vibrational mode at 64 meV for C(60) and 61 meV for C(70) adsorbed on NiAl(110).     

Raman study on pentacene:C60 bulk heterojunction films

We measured 785 nm excited Raman and infrared spectra of pentacene-d₁₄. The observed spectra were assigned on the basis of the Raman and infrared spectra calculated by the density functional theory (DFT) method at the B3LYP/6⬜311 + G** level. We measured 785 nm excited Raman spectrum of a pentacne-d₁₄:C₆₀ bulk heterojunction film. The spectrum was assigned on the basis of the wavenumber shifts upon deuteration of pentacene. The assignments of the 1462 and 493 cm^↙1 A_g bands of C₆₀ were confirmed. The 511, 453, and 256 cm^↙1 bands, which were observed only in pentacene:C₆₀ bulk heterojunction films, did not show large deuteration shifts. This result indicates that the 511, 453, and 256 cm^↙1 bands are attributed to activation of the silent modes of C₆₀ due to symmetry lowering_.     

AFM and XRD investigation of crystalline vapor-deposited C60 films

The morphological and structural properties of C(60) films deposited on quartz substrates by sublimation at 320-500 degrees C under high vacuum have been investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and reflection X-ray diffraction (RXRD). The thickness of the films varied between 0.2 microm and 10 microm. AFM showed that the films consist predominantly of cubic crystals of a few micrometer in size with well-developed (111) and (100) faces. The crystallographic investigation revealed a strongly preferred [111] growth direction which is very sensitive to the deposition rate and substrate temperature. The influence of the experimental parameters on the morphology of the crystals and on the preferred orientation of the films is discussed in view of the AFM and RXRD results.     

Crystal solvate of C60 with tricloroethylene,C60 · C2HCl3

Extraction of fullerenes from carbon soot by trichloroethylene has been studied. We have found that C₆₀ forms a solvate with trichloroethylene (C₆₀ · C₂HCl₃:a=31.31(1);b= 10.156(4);c=10.146(4) Å;V=3228.6 ų,Z=4,d _calc=1.752 g cm^–3, orthorhombic symmetry). Its thermal stability has been studied using TG and DSC. A phase transition of the first order at 167 K has been detected.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1248–1250, July, 1994.The authors are grateful to V. P. Bubnov and I. S. Krainskii for providing them with the samples of fulle-rene-containing carbon soot, and to M. G. Kaplunov and A. V. Zvarykina for assistance in the work.This work was carried out with the financial support of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, Project Nos. 93-03-18705 and 93-03-5650.     

Synthesis of C60H2 by rhodium-catalyzed hydrogenation of C60.

Reduction of C60 with rhodium(0) on alumina and hydrogen in deuterated benzene (C6D6) at ambient temperature and pressure yields a mixture of hydrogenated compounds; C60H2 has been characterized as the major product in 14% yield based on 1H NMR.     

Effective enhancement of peroxydisulfate electrochemiluminescence on C60/DDAB films

Effective enhancement of electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of peroxydisulfate on a C₆₀/didodecyldimethyl ammonium bromide (C₆₀/DDAB) film coated glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surface is reported in this paper. The C₆₀/DDAB film gave lower cathodic current in the presence of peroxydisulfate than that from a bare GCE. To our surprise, electrochemiluminescent intensity from peroxydisulfate reduction was effectively enhanced on the C₆₀/DDAB film, which was 50 times and 250 times higher than those from a DDAB film coated and bare GCE, respectively. Moreover, the ECL onset potential on the C₆₀/DDAB film was about −0.9 V, which positively shifted 200 mV compared with that from the bare GCE. Dissolved oxygen and the applied potential also affected the electrochemiluminescent intensity. The presence of oxygen decreased the intensity, and the intensity reached maximum at the applied potential of −1.7 V. The unique property will greatly enrich ECL studies and applications based on fullerenes.     

Formation of singly bonded PhCH2C60-C60CH2Ph dimers from 1,2-(PhCH2)HC60 via electroreductive C60-H activation

Singly bonded PhCH(2)C(60)-C(60)CH(2)Ph dimers are generated via controlled-potential bulk electroreduction and electrooxidation of 1,2-(PhCH(2))HC(60). The reaction mixture was purified by HPLC, and the isolated fraction was characterized with single-crystal X-ray diffractions, (1)H and (13)NMR, MS, elemental analysis, and cyclic voltammetry. It was shown that the fraction consists of two HPLC-inseparable PhCH(2)C(60)-C(60)CH(2)Ph regioisomers, which are assigned as the meso and racemic regioisomers. The bulk electrolysis processes for the formation of the dimers were followed by in situ cyclic voltammetry and were further corroborated with an in situ voltammetric titration of 1,2-(PhCH(2))HC(60) with tetra-n-butylammonium hydroxide (TBAOH), on the basis of which a reaction mechanism is proposed.     

Growth of p- and n-dopable films from electrochemically generated C60 cations

The formidable electron-acceptor properties of C60 contrast with its difficult oxidations. Only recently it has become possible to achieve reversibility of more than one electrochemical anodic process versus the six reversible cathodic reductions. Here we exploit the reactivity of electrochemical oxidations of pure C60 to grow a film of high thermal and mechanical stability on the anode. The new material differs remarkably from its precursor since it conducts both electrons and holes. Its growth and properties are consistently characterized by a host of techniques that include atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman and infrared spectroscopies, X-ray-photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), secondary-ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI), and a variety of electrochemical measurements.     

Microscopic insights into the sputtering of thin organic films on Ag{111} induced by C60 and Ga bombardment

Molecular dynamics computer simulations have been employed to model the bombardment of Ag{111} covered with three layers of C6H6 by 15 keV Ga and C60 projectiles. The study is aimed toward examining the mechanism by which molecules are desorbed from surfaces by energetic cluster ion beams and toward elucidating the differences between cluster bombardment and atom bombardment. The results show that the impact of the cluster on the benzene-covered surface leads to molecular desorption during the formation of a mesoscopic scale impact crater via a catapulting mechanism. Because of the high yield of C6H6 with both Ga and C60, the yield enhancement is observed to be consistent with related experimental observations. Specific energy and angle distributions are shown to be associated with the catapult mechanism.     

Induced Absorption of C60 and a Water-Soluble C60-Derivative in SiO2 Sol-Gel Matrices

Porous sol-gel glasses, either impregnated with pure C₆₀ or doped with a methanofullerene derivative, have been studied and induced absorption or reverse saturable absorption (RSA) has been observed in both types of solid materials. The samples impregnated by pure C₆₀ mainly contain well-dispersed fullerene molecules. Unlike crystalline films of C₆₀, their absorption dynamics can be well described by a 5-level model, developed for non-interacting C₆₀-molecules in solutions. Methanofullerene samples, on the other hand, show signs of micellar aggregation and therefore RSA dynamics that are influenced by solid state effects. We observe an important decrease of transmission at high fluences for both kinds of samples, a shortened singlet-state lifetime to that observed in solution, but nonetheless, a triplet yield, that cannot be considered as negligible. In the case of pure C₆₀ in a sol-gel matrix, we can explain the faster de-excitation dynamics, relative to behavior in solution, mainly by the absence of stabilizing aromatic solvents and also by the interaction of the amorphous environment with the molecules. Concerning the methanofullerene samples, the acceleration of the de-excitation dynamics can be principally attributed to solid-state effects due to the micellar aggregation.     

Darstellung und Charakterisierung der Fulleren-Kokristallisate C60 · 12 C6H12, C70 · 12 C6H12, C60 · 12 CCl4, C60 · 2 CHBr3, C60 · 2 CHCl3, C60 · 2 H2CCl2

Synthesis and Characterization of the Fullerene Co-Crystals C₆₀ · 12 C₆H₁₂, C₇₀ · 12 C₆H₁₂, C₆₀ · 12 CCl₄, C₆₀ · 2CHBr₃, C₆₀ · 2CHCl₃, C₆₀ · 2H₂CCl₂ By crystallization of fullerenes from non-polar solvents (C₆H₁₂, CCl₄, CHBr₃, CHCl₃, H₂CCl₂) compounds of the following compositions were obtained: C₆₀ · 12C₆H₁₂, C₇₀ · 12C₆H₁₂, C₆₀ · 12CCl₄, C₆₀ · 2CHCl₃, C₆₀ · 2CHBr₃ and C₆₀ · 2H₂CCl₂. Lattice parameters have been determined by X-ray diffraction of powder samples; according to single-crystal examinations on C₆₀ · 12C₆H₁₂, C₆₀ · 12CCl₄ and C₆₀ · 2CHBr₃ the fullerene is orientationally disordered. C₆₀ · 12C₆H₁₂, cubic, a = 28.167(1) Å; C₇₀ · 12C₆H₁₂, cubic, a = 28.608(2) Å; C₆₀ · 12CCl₄, cubic, a = 27.42(1) Å; C₆₀ · 2CHBr₃, hexagonal, a = 10.212(1), c = 10.209(1) Å; C₆₀ · 2CHCl₃, hexagonal, a = 10.08(1), c = 10.11(2) Å; C₆₀ · 2H₂CCl₂, tetragonal, a = 16.400(1) Å, c = 11.645(7) Å.     

Self-organization of a new fluorous porphyrin and C60 films on indium-tin-oxide electrode

The highly fluorinated alkyl moieties of a new porphyrin drive the self-organization of thin films with C(60) on ITO electrodes.     

Preparation and structures of [6,6]-open difluoromethylene[60]fullerenes: C60(CF2) and C60(CF2)2

Difluoromethylenation of C60 with thermally decomposed CF2ClCO2Na provides novel C60(CF2) and C60(CF2)2 compounds with unique [6,6]-open structures. A theoretical survey of CF2 derivatives of C60 demonstrates that carbon cage opening can be controlled via charging of the molecule and that the thermodynamically preferable structures combine the trend to form open isomers with the compactness of the addition motifs, which results in the formation of windows in the fullerene cage.     

Rapid insight into C60 influence on biological functions of proteins

Experimental methods of investigations of nanoparticle (NP)–protein interactions are limited, because they require a high amount of samples and the NPs tend to interfere with spectral results. Therefore, molecular modeling is a commonly accepted tool in such kind of investigations. Examining the molecule toxicity on the molecular level, we usually want to know, mainly, the location of the ligand on the protein surface and what is an influence of such a contact on the biological functions of the protein. In the presented work, we demonstrate that multiple-docking of the ligand from a random start and with large grid volume, to let the ligand search the whole protein surface, allows to find the best binding sites and gives reliable results considering ligand–protein interactions. In the present work, we have constructed six models of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids proteins: α1-antitripsin, albumin, ceruloplasmin, lactoferrin, lysozyme, and transferrin with fullerene, C₆₀ utilizing molecular docking methods. The most probable results were examined with steered molecular dynamics (SMD) to see, if the simple docking method is able to predict the fullerene binding affinity. Albumin and lysozyme were already widely investigated and literature data is available for their complexes with fullerene C₆₀ and/or its derivatives. Thus, we used these two models as a reference set to validate the used molecular modeling methods. With our best knowledge, interactions of the remaining four proteins with NPs have never been investigated in detail before. Our results indicate that fullerene C₆₀ readily interacts with all studied proteins and may have a large impact on their biological functions.     

Computer modeling of C2 cluster addition to fullerene C60

The reaction between C₂ cluster and C₆₀ fullerene resulting in C₂ insertion to C₆₀ with formation of closed C₆₂ cage (reaction of C₂ ingestion by C₆₀) was investigated by the semiempirical MNDO‐PM3 method. The geometries and energies of extremal points on the C₆₂ potential energy surface were calculated. Several reaction pathways leading to the formation of three different closed C₆₂ fullerenes were investigated. All insertion reactions proceed stepwise through intermediate adducts of different structures. The main reaction pathways were found to be addition of C₂ by its one side to the 6,6‐ or 5,6‐bond of C₆₀ with formation of primary unclosed C₆₂ adducts of “ball‐with‐fork” structures, lying in deep potential wells. Back reaction of C₂ detachment from primary adducts can compete with that of their transformation to the closed C₆₂ cages inasmuch as calculated activation barriers of the both reactions are comparable. Model calculations at the B3LYP/6‐31G* level, using C₃₂H₁₂ semisphere instead of C₆₀, confirmed the conclusion about two competitive pathways of the primary adducts transformation, C₂ detachment, and C₂ ingestion. The concerted insertion of C₂ to C₆₀ was realized only in the case of severe restrictions on starting geometry of the C₂ + C₆₀ system. The results of calculations explain recent experimental data on the formation of metastable adducts upon addition of C₂ to C₆₀, obtained using the time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer with laser desorption. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2002     

Electrochemical formation and properties of two-component films of transition metal complexes and C60 or C70

The electrochemically active polymers have been formed during electro-reduction carried out in solution containing fullerenes, C₆₀ or C₇₀, and transition metal complexes of Pd(II), Pt(II), Rh(III), and Ir(I). In these films, fullerene moieties are covalently bounded to transition metal atoms (Pd and Pt) or their complexes (Rh and Ir) to form a polymeric network. All films exhibit electrochemical activity at negative potentials due to the fullerene cages reduction process. For all studied metal complexes, yields of formation of films containing C₇₀ are higher than yields of electrodeposition of their C₆₀ analogs. C₇₀ /M films also exhibit higher porosity in comparison to C₆₀/M layers. The differences in film morphology and efficiency of polymer formation are responsible for differences in electrochemical responses of these films in acetonitrile containing supporting electrolyte only. C₇₀/M films shows more reversible voltammeric behavior in negative potential range. They also show higher potential range of electrochemical stability. Processes of film formation and electrochemical properties of polymers depend on the transition metal ions or atoms bonding fullerene cages into polymeric network. The highest efficiency of polymerization was observed for fullerene/Pd and fullerene/Rh films. In the case of fullerene/Pd films, the charge transfer processes related to the fullerene moieties reduction in negative potential range exhibit the best reversibility among all of the studied systems. Capacitance performances of C₆₀/Pd and C₇₀/Pd films deposited on the porous Au/quartz electrode were also compared. Capacitance properties of both films are significantly affected by the conditions of electropolymerization. Only a fraction of the film having a direct contact with solution contributes to pseudocapacitance. Capacitance properties of these films also depend on the size of cations of supporting electrolyte. The C₇₀/Pd film exhibits much better capacitance performance comparison to C₆₀/Pd polymer.     

Influence of the electrolyte composition of the subphase on the structure of 2D films of fullerene C60

The morphology of 2D films of fullerene C₆₀ on interfaces has been studied by Brewster angle microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Fullerene C₆₀ tends to aggregate, forming supramolecular structures with a surface area per C₆₀ molecule from 21.6 to 2900 Ų. As the area per C₆₀ molecule decreases, monomolecular clusters gradually transform into multiplayer structures. The introduction of an electrolyte into the system prevents the formation of fullerene globules and favors the formation of more homogeneous films.