Effect of an External Electric Field on Polytypic Growth of CdI2 Crystals from Solutions

The effect of an external steady electric field on polytypic growth of CdI₂ crystals was investigated. Crystals were grown at four temperatures: 5, 25, 35, and 50°C with the use of four solvents: H₂O, C₂H₅OH, 3 H₂O + 1 C₂H₅OH and 1 H₂O + 1 C₂H₅OH. The electric field of the intensity 500 to 2500 V/cm was oriented in two directions: perpendicular or parallel to the c-axis of hexagonal plates of CdI₂ crystals. The analysis of the effect of the field on polytypism of CdI₂ was based on the analysis of the structure of about 800 crystals grown in the presence of electric field and of about 1000 crystals grown in neutral conditions. It was established that the weak electric field used for crystallization of CdI₂ does not influence noticeably the relative stability of basic polytypes (2H, 4H) and of complex polytypic structures (ordered and disordered). The electric field may influence the structure of CdI₂ crystals in two ways: (i) the polytypes formed in the presence of the field have on average two times larger cells than the polytypes formed in neutral conditions, (ii) the polytypes formed in neutral conditions have usually hexagonal cells; only 6 to 30% of polytypes are of rhombohedral type. When the electric field was used the percentage of rhombohedral polytypes increased to about 65%.     

Electroabsorption and oppositely directed built-in fields in a photovoltaic organic heterostructure

The directions and intensities of local electric fields spontaneously built into organic nanoscale structures of Schottky-diode type, indium tin oxide (ITO)-CuPc-Al and ITO-C₆₀-Al, with donor and acceptor layers of copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) and fullerene (C₆₀) have been investigated using an improved spectral electroabsorption technique. It is established that, in the absence of external field and illumination, the built-in fields in the bulk of these structures are directed differently: from Al to ITO in the case of CuPc and from ITO to Al in the case of C₆0. The best studied photovoltaic heterostructure ITO-CuPc-C₆0-Al contains simultaneously strong built-in fields in CuPc and C₆₀ layers, with strengths of about 15 and ?22 V/μm, respectively. A high (on the order of 10^?3 C/m²) positive space charge arises at the donor-acceptor interface, and the oppositely directed fields may either increase or reduce the efficiency of light-energy converters, depending on the heterostructure parameters.     

Spectral Characteristics of C60-Conducting Polymer Junctions: Various Molecular D-A Type Photocells

Abstract

We have found recently that thin film layered heterojunction between C₆₀ and conducting polymer, like poly(3-alkylthiophene) (PAT) shows a photovoltaic effect due to photoinduced charge transfer at the interface. Here we describe two other examples of such photocells in RO-PPV/C₆₀ and PPP/C₆₀ heterojunctions and study their spectral characteristics. Contrary to conventional inorganic semiconductor p-n junction photocells, the C₆₀-PAT junction can be rather viewed as molecular donor-acceptor (D-A) type photocell in which the processes of photogeneration and separation of charge carriers are quite distinct. In a p-n junction free electron-hole pairs are known to be primarily photogenerated at interband transition and then separated in the internal electric field of the barrier, while in D-A molecular photocell mainly neutral excitons are first created by light, with charges being primarily separated at the narrow interface region due to D-A type intermolecular charge transfer interactions. We analyze how this processes depend on the wavelength of the pumping light and on the polarity and magnitude of the applied voltage.     

The Electronic Structures of (PH4)3C60 and (ClO4)3C60

Abstract

We have studied theoretically the electronic structures of a hypothetical donor-type material, (PH₄)₃C₆₀, and a hypothetical acceptor-type material, (ClO₄)₃C₆₀ from first principles by using a full-potential linear-combination-of-atomic-orbitals method based on the density-functional theory within the local-density approximation. It is found that the charge transfer from the PH₄ molecules to the C₆₀ molecules is perfect while the charge transfer from the ClO₄ molecules to the C₆₀ molecules is not perfect. We compare the latter result with the electronic structures of two typical acceptor-type organic conductors, (TMTSF)₂ClO₄ and (TMTSF)₂PF₆, and discuss the differences.     

Electronic Properties of Ba-Intercalated Fullerides

Abstract

Raman spectra have been measured on Ba_xC₆₀ binary systems for x=3, 4 and 6. The pentagonal pinch Ag(2) mode exhibits a softening in an approximately proportional manner to the formal valence of C₆₀ molecule. This result suggests that the valence of C₆₀ in Ba doped systems are understood by the naive ionic crystal model based on Ba²⁺. The broader Raman peaks in superconducting Ba₄C₆₀ indicates that the electron-phonon interaction is considerably large comparing to those for Ba₃C₆₀ and Ba₆C₆₀.     

The effect of solvent ratio and water on the growth of C60 nanowhiskers

The growth of C₆₀ nanowhiskers (C₆₀NWs) prepared by a modified liquid–liquid interfacial precipitation method is investigated, focusing on the effect of solvent ratio and water content in the C₆₀–toluene–isopropyl alcohol (IPA) solution system. The precipitation of C₆₀NWs was markedly influenced by the solvent ratio of toluene to IPA, and the C₆₀NWs were found to grow longer above a critical diameter (D_c), which depends on the solvent ratio. The addition of a small amount of H₂O to the C₆₀–toluene–IPA solution promoted the growth of C₆₀NWs. This catalytic effect of water on the growth of C₆₀NWs was confirmed also by the experiment using heavy water (D₂O) and by the decrease of growth activation energy of C₆₀NWs with increase of H₂O content in the C₆₀–toluene–IPA solution.     

Intercalation of O2 and its Effect on the Properties of C60 and C70 Solids

Abstract

The intercalation of O₂ in C₆₀ and C₇₀ solids have been studied. In both gas effusion spectra of C₆₀ and C₇₀ powder exposed to O₂ at room temperature, two evolution peaks of O₂ are found near 80 and 150°C. In both C₆₀ and C₇₀ powder, the peak near 80°C does not depend on a heating ratio and the peak near 150°C shifts to higher temperature with the heating ratio. The activation energy on diffusion of O₂ in C₆₀ and C₇₀ solids are ～0.27eV and ～0.46eV, respectively. The number of O₂ intercalated in C₇₀ powder is larger than that in C₆₀ powder. Electron spin density of 02-intercalated C₆₀ film is larger than that of C₇₀ film. The effect on the properties of C₆₀ and C₇₀ solids by the intercalation of O₂ are discussed.     

Optically Detected Magnetic Resonance (ODMR) Study of Isolated C70 Molecules and C70 Films

Abstract

The X-band ODMR of C₇₀ molecules isolated in a toluene/polystyrene (C₇₀:T/PS) glass and C₇₀ films is compared to that of C₆₀. As C₆₀:T/PS, the C₇₀ glasses exhibit only a triplet pattern at g ? 2, clearly due to an exciton delocalized over the molecule; however, it is strikingly asymmetric and narrower, due to the larger size of C₇₀. The ODMR of both C₆₀ and C₇₀ films includes a narrow photoluminescence-enhancing polaron resonance and full- and half- field narrow and broad triplet exciton patterns. As in the glasses, the narrow pattern is due to the exciton delocalized over the molecule and is narrower in C₇₀ The broad pattern is tentatively assigned to a triplet localized on a face adjacent to a neighboring molecule. In contrast to C₆₀, the ODMR of C₇₀ films is detectable up to 295 K, apparently due to the slower rotation.     

Infrared Spectra and Photoinduced Absorption of C60 Doped Polyhexylthiophene

Abstract

We report the IR spectra and the photoinduced absorption of polyhexylthiophene(PHT) doped with C₆₀. The presence of C₆₀ ^?n anions is observed in the IR spectra by a mode at 1383 cm^?1 and a broad electronic transition at 1.2 eV, while most of the C₆₀ molecules stay neutral. This is indicative that for a small fraction of C₆₀ molecules, charge transfer occurs in the ground state.

The photoinduced absorption spectra display a sharp transition at 1.15 eV peculiar to C₆₀ monoanion, the spectral features change with fullerene concentration. The intensity of the polymer photoinduced bands increases 5-10 times due to photoinduced charge transfer to C₆₀.     

In Situ FT-IR Study of an Electron-Beam Induced Reaction of C60 Film

Abstract

The structural modification induced by electron-beam (EB) in a C₆₀ film and its kinetics have been studied using in situ high-resolution FT-IR spectroscopy. Similar to studies on photoirradiated K_xC₆₀ fim, was found that a coalescence reaction between adjacent C₆₀ molecules takes place. In order to investigate the interaction between an incident electron and Cgg molecules, the time-dependence of the amounts of C₆₀ on the EB irradiation was examined. It was found that the reaction rate exhibits a linear dependence on the reactant concentration and nonlinear dependence on the incident current.     

Crystal Structure of Europium C60 Compounds

Abstract

We have studied crystal structures of europium C₆₀ compounds by high resolution x-ray diffraction measurements. In the systematic synthesis of Eu _x C₆₀ for x (0 ≤ x ≤ 6), two stable phases appear at x = 3 and 6. Eu₆C₆₀ has a bcc structure, which is an isostructure to M ₆C₆₀ (M represents an alkali or alkaline earth metal). Eu₃C₆₀ has a superstructure derived by doubling the fcc pristine C₆₀ crystal along three principal axes. This superstructure comes from an ordering of cation vacancies, which is analogous to Yb_2.75C₆₀.     

Investigation of the Interaction between C60 and Si Atoms

Abstract

The interaction between C₆₀ and Si atoms was investigated using X-ray photoelectron spec-troscopy (XPS) for the photo-irradiated Si-deposited C₆₀ film in order to establish a method of a synthesis for the Si-coated C₆₀. It was found that the Cls spectrum of the photo-irradiated film contains a peak due to C-Si bonding, while no peak due to C-Si bonding was observed for the film before photo-irradiation. This indicates that Si atoms stick to C₆₀ when using the present method.     

High resolution neutron and X‐ray diffraction studies as a function of temperature and electric field of the ferroelectric phase transition of RDP

Neutron and high resolution X‐ray diffraction investigations on perfect single crystals of RbH₂PO₄ (RDP), a hydrogen bonded ferroelectric of KDP type are reported. The results of crystal structure analysis from diffraction data, below and above the paraelectric ‐ ferroelectric phase transition, support a disorder ‐ order character of [PO₄H₂]^‐‐groups. The tetragonal symmetry of the paraelectric phase with the double well potential of the hydrogen atoms obtained by diffraction, results simply from a time‐space average of orthorhombic symmetry. According to the group ‐ subgroup relation between the tetragonal space group I42d and the orthorhombic Fdd2 a short range order of ferroelectric clusters in the tetragonal phase is observed. With decreasing temperature the ferroelectric clusters increase and the long range interaction between their local polarisation vectors leads to the formation of lamellar ferroelectric domains with alternating polarisation directions at T_C = 147 K. From the high resolution X‐ray data it is concluded that below T_C the ferroelastic strain in the (a,b)‐plane leads to micro‐angle grain boundaries at the domain walls. The tilt angle is enhanced by an applied electric field parallel to the ferroelectric axis. The resulting dislocations at the domain walls persist in the paraelectric phase leading to a memory effect for the arrangement of twin lamellae. With increased electric field the phase transition temperature T_C is decreased. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

In Situ FTIR,XPS, and STM Studies of the Nano-Structure of a Photopolymerized C60 Film

Abstract

The nano-structure of C₆₀ photopolymers has been investigated using in situ Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The FTTR and XPS studies revealed that the C₆₀ pholopolymer has a cross-linking via a [2+2] cycloaddition four-membered ring and formed a 2D rhombohedral structure when the polymerization was saturated. Using STM, we have successfully observed the direct real-space imaging of the C₆₀ dimers and trimers in a C₆₀ monolayer supported on a clean semiconductor surface.     

Synthesis and structure of fullerene halides in the C60-(TiCl4 + Br2) system: Molecular structures of (C60Cl5)2, C60 X 6, C60 X 8, and C60 X 24( X = Cl, Br)

The reactions in the C₆₀-(TiCl₄ + Br₂) system have been performed in ampoules at elevated temperatures. The molecular structure of the fullerene halides (C₆₀Cl₅)₂, C₆₀ X ₆, C₆₀ X ₈, and C₆₀ X ₂₄ (X = Cl, Br) has been determined and refined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. It has been established that an increase in the bromine concentration results in an increase in the number of halogen atoms attached to the fullerene cage and in an increase in the relative fraction of bromine atoms in mixed halogen derivatives from almost pure chlorides (C₆₀Cl₅)₂ and C₆₀Cl₆ to halides C₆₀ X ₈ and C₆₀ X ₂₄ with a high relative bromine content. Original Russian Text ? S.I. Troyanov, A.V. Burtsev, E. Kemnitz, 2009, published in Kristallografiya, 2009, Vol. 54, No. 2, pp. 268–275.     

Electron Transfer and Energy Transfer Reactions in Photoexcited α-Nonathiophene/C60 Films and Solutions

Abstract

Photoexcitation of a nonathiophene in film or solution across the π-π* energy gap produces a metastable triplet state. In the presence of C₆₀, on the other hand, an ultra fast electron transfer from the photoexcited nonathiophene onto C₆₀ is observed in films, whereas in solution C₆₀ is involved in an efficient energy transfer reaction with the triplet-state nonathiophene.     

Small-angle X-ray scattering study of the structure of powder fullerene C<Subscript>60</Subscript> and fullerene soot

Powder samples of fullerene C₆₀ and fullerene soot have been studied by the small-angle X-ray scattering method. The radii of gyration of scattering elements have been determined by constructing small-angle diffraction patterns in Guinier coordinates. The data obtained agree well with the results of wide-angle X-ray scattering study, the available data on the structure of the powder fullerene C₆₀ prepared by the Huffman-Krätschmer technique, and the structure of the C₆₀ molecules. Conglomerates of two C₆₀ molecules, along with crystallites ～20 nm in size that are distributed in an amorphous matrix, are present in fullerene powders. Fullerene soot contains C₆₀ crystallites 20–25 nm in size and graphite crystallites ～2–3 nm in size that are distributed in an amorphous matrix.     

Static Disorder in Hexagonal Crystal Structures of C60 at 100 K and 20 K

C₆₀ · 2C₈H₁₀ (100 K): hexagonal space group P6₃, a = 23.694(4), c = 10.046(2) Å, V = 4884(2) ų, D_x = 1.903 g cm⁻³, Z = 6, F(000) = 2856, γ(CuKa) = 1.54178 Å, μ = 0.84 mm⁻¹. C₆₀ · 2C₈H₁₀ (20 K): hexagonal space group P6₃, a = 23.67(1), c = 10.02(1) Å, V = 4862(6) ų, D_x = 1.912 g cm⁻³, Z = 6, F(000) = 2856, γ(CuKa) = 1.54178 Å, μ = 0.84 mm⁻¹. The structures were determined by Patterson syntheses and rigid-body refinements. The C₆₀ molecules show two orientations with one molecular centre in common. The solvent molecules are disordered too. Static disorder could not be overcome or influenced by cooling down. A coordination number of 10 was found for the fullerene molecules.     

Effect of the age of the C60/N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone solution on the structure of clusters in the C60/N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone/water system according to the small-angle neutron scattering data

Fullerene clusters in the C₆₀/N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP)/water system have been investigated by small-angle neutron scattering. It is shown that the scattering cross section corresponding to the size range 10–100 nm depends on the water content in the mixture. Addition of water to a C₆₀/NMP solution in an amount exceeding 40% leads to a sharp increase in the average scattering cross section. This effect depends on the interval between the times of preparation of a C₆₀/NMP solution and its dilution with water: the size of the clusters formed as a result of adding water increases with increasing the age of the initial solution. The reasons for this effect are discussed.     

Investigation of the structure of C60 fullerene halides by the neutron and synchrotron diffraction methods

The crystal and molecular structures of bromofullerenes and chlorofullerenes, namely, C₆₀Br₆ · 0.5PhCl · 0.5Br₂, C₆₀Br₈ · TiBr₄ · Br₂, C₆₀Br₂₄ · Br₂, and C₆₀Cl₂₄ · TiCl₄, are determined and refined using neutron and synchrotron diffraction. The interatomic distances are determined with an accuracy higher than the accuracy in the determination of the corresponding parameters for the same molecular structures with the use of X-ray laboratory equipment.