Rheological Behavior of Poly(vinylpyrrolidone)/Fullerene C60 Complexes in Aqueous Medium

Aqueous solutions of complexes formed between poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), as a matrix polymer, and fullerene C₆₀ were investigated. The effect of the external hydrodynamic field on the supermolecular assemblies formed by the complexes was analyzed. Despite the low content in the complexes (1.5 mass%), fullerene significantly modified the viscosity of aqueous PVP. Thus, the dynamic viscosity of the PVP/C₆₀ complexes grew faster than that of the pure PVP upon increasing the PVP/C₆₀ concentration. The difference in viscosities is especially pronounced for semidilute solutions. As a possible explanation, it is assumed that fullerenes act as crosslinks, in addition to the physical entanglements of the PVP macromolecules, which appear in the vicinity of the crossover concentration. Shear flow corresponding to the high shear rates destroyed fullerene‐induced intermolecular crosslinks in PVP/C₆₀ solutions.     

Thermal and Tribological Properties of Fullerene‐Containing Composite Systems. Part 3. Features of the Mechanism of Thermal Degradation of Poly‐(N‐Vinyl‐Pyrrolidone) and Its Compositions with Fullerene C60

By mass‐spectrometric thermal analysis (MTA) the thermochemical features of poly(N‐vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and its compositions with fullerene C₆₀ were studied. The mechanism of PVP thermal degradation was investigated; in particular the nature of the low‐temperature degradation (between 75 and 300°C) accompanied by output of pyrrolidone was explained as well as the influence of fullerene C₆₀ on this mechanism. It was shown that during thermal degradation of copolymer PVP‐C₆₀, there is a disappearance of the low‐temperature peaks of the output of pyrrolidone that is interpreted as an increase of the thermal stability of N‐vinyl‐pyrrolidone fragments in this product in comparison with their thermal stability in pure PVP.     

Radio-frequency muon spin resonance studies of endohedral and exohedral muonium adducts of fullerenes

The radio-frequency muon spin resonance technique (RF-μSR) is described, with examples drawn from muon studies of fullerences. Two distinct species can be detected by RF-μSR when solid C₆₀ is irradiated with positive muons. Endohedral muonium (Mu@C₆₀) is characterized by a muon hyperfine constant (A _μ) close to the vacuum value. A remarkable feature of the RF-μSR spectrum is the double quantum transition, which appears when the allowed transitions are saturated. The exohedral muonium adduct (C₆₀Mu) is also detected, and has a much smaller value ofA _μ typical of a carbon-centred organic radical. It has been studied by RF-μSR in dilute solution, which is not possible for transverse field muon spin rotation (TF-μSR). There is a significant difference inA _μ of C₆₀Mu in the solid and in solution, a result of great import to the analysis of avoided-level crossing experiments on¹³C₆₀Mu.     

Molecular properties of C<Subscript>60</Subscript> fullerene complexes with cycle-containing polymers in solutions

The donor-acceptor complexes of the C₆₀ fullerene with cycle-containing polymers, namely, poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPhO) and poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), are studied. A comparative analysis of the hydrodynamic and electrooptical properties of the initial polymers and their complexes with C₆₀ in solutions demonstrates that the C₆₀ fullerene has a restructuring effect on the polymer macromolecule, thus decreasing the degree of asymmetry of the macromolecular structure.     

Raman spectra of samarium-fullerene intercalation compounds

Samarium-fullerene intercalation compounds of nominal composition Sm_xC₆₀ (x=1,2,…,6) have been synthesized by a solid-state reaction method. We obtain a Sm_2.75C₆₀ superconducting phase with orthogonal structure and a Sm₆C₆₀ phase with body-centered cubic structure. The broadening and weakening of Raman peaks of the Sm_xC₆₀ compounds are due to the distortion of C₆₀ and electron-phonon interaction. The Raman measurements reveal that the distortion of C₆₀ decrease in Sm_xC₆₀ (x=3,4,5) exposed to air, although the fulleride solids have transformed into an amorphous state. The Raman results also show that the distortion of C₆₀ is still very large in the Sm₆C₆₀ exposed to air, or the C₆₀ molecules have been destroyed and become some amorphous carbide.     

Inhibition of prefrontal protein synthesis following recall does not disrupt memory for trace fear conditioning

Background  

The extent of similarity between consolidation and reconsolidation is not yet fully understood. One of the differences noted is that not every brain region involved in consolidation exhibits reconsolidation. In trace fear conditioning, the hippocampus and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) are required for consolidation of long-term memory. We have previously demonstrated that trace fear memory is susceptible to infusion of the protein synthesis inhibitor anisomycin into the hippocampus following recall. In the present study, we examine whether protein synthesis inhibition in the mPFC following recall similarly results in the observation of reconsolidation of trace fear memory.     

Small-angle neutron scattering in aqueous solutions of fullerene-containing oligopropylene oxides

Propylene-oxide oligomers in heavy water (their molecular mass is ～500, and the concentration C varies from ～0.6 to 5.0 g/dL) and similar systems with C₆₀ and C₇₀ fullerenes and C₆₀(OH) _x fullerenols (x ～ 20), i.e., functionalized oligopropylene oxides, are studied via small-angle neutron scattering. The initial oligomers are found to create spherical micelles (～40 molecules) in the solution. It is ascertained that, in oligopropylene-oxide solutions, the C₆₀, C₇₀, and C₆₀(OH) _x derivatives (～1 wt % of fullerene relative to the oligomer) modify its molecular organization, acting as physical bonds whereby micelles are joined into large-scale linear, twisted, and branched chain superstructures.     

Time-dependent non-linear size change of C<Subscript>60</Subscript>-ethylenediamine adduct particles in formation process

Addition reaction between C₆₀ and ethylenediamine occurred at room temperature in an ambient condition. C₆₀-ethylenediamine adduct particles were prepared by mixing toluene solutions of C₆₀ and ethyelenediamine. Average diameter of the C₆₀-ethylenediamine adduct particles was changed non-linearly according to the reaction time, which were observed using transmission electron microscopy. Early stage of the reaction, the diameter of the adduct particles was changed from about 250 to about 430 nm. Then, the size of the adduct particles was converged to about 300 nm. During this addition reaction, the crystalline sizes of adduct particles were constant about 2–3 nm, regardless of the sizes of the adduct particles, which were determined by X-ray diffraction measurement.

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Quasi-one-dimensional fullerene-nanotube composites: Structure, formation energetics, and electronic properties

Carbon nanotubes coated with close-packed C₆₀ (or C₇₀) fullerenes, which are “attached” to the nanotubes by van der Waals forces, are considered and classified as a new class of nanocomposites. Semiempirical and molecular-dynamics calculations reveal the most energetically stable systems and show that a topological (Stone-Wales) defect on a nanotube can promote a more favorable “attachment” of fullerene to the nanotube. It has been shown that the molecular interaction of the fullerene coating with the nanotube leads to a significant change in its electronic spectrum, namely, to the formation of minibands including a large number of branches associated with the lift of the degeneracy of levels of C₆₀ and to the consolidation of branches of the carbon nanotube into the Brillouin zone smaller than that in the carbon nanotube. This fact should strongly change the interaction of light with such a nanocomposite as compared to carbon nanotubes and fullerenes, which provides prospect of its application in photovoltaics.     

Electron-energy-loss spectroscopy of KxC60 and K-halides: comparison in the K3p excitation region

We have investigated the electronic structure of K_xC₆₀ (x=0–6) using low-energy electron energy loss spectroscopy (LEELS), especially focusing on the K_3p core-electron excitation spectra. It is found that the structure of the K_3p-excitation spectrum of K_xC₆₀ quite differs from that of KCl. Furthermore, the K_3p-excitation LEELS of K₃C₆₀ has been revealed to be different from that of K₆C₆₀. K_3p electrons are excited into K_4s- and K_3d-derived empty states in both K_xC₆₀ and KCl, but in the case of K_xC₆₀ the K_3d-derived empty states have a rather complicated structure where several levels are not well separated. Consequently, K_3p-excitation LEEL spectra of K_xC₆₀ show wide-spread plateau-like structures. The difference in the K_3p-excitation spectra of K₃C₆₀ and K₆C₆₀ is considered to originate from the different crystal field around K⁺ cations in the C₆₀ molecular crystal.     

Molecular dynamics study of orientational melting and thermodynamic properties of C<Subscript>60</Subscript>@C<Subscript>240</Subscript> nanoparticles

The barriers to relative shell rotation and other energy characteristics of C₆₀@C₂₄₀ two-shell carbon nanoparticles (“onions”) with outer shells of different shapes are calculated. The disturbance of the orientational order in the mutual arrangement of shells with an increase in temperature (orientational melting) is studied by the molecular dynamics method. The intershell orientational diffusion is represented by the Arrhenius relationship, and the Arrhenius parameters are calculated numerically. A definition is proposed for the temperature of short-range order disturbance in systems that undergo melting without structural change. The calculated temperature of orientational melting of the C₆₀@C₂₄₀ nanoparticle is approximately equal to 60 K.     

Sonochemical synthesis of novel C60 fullerene 1,4-oxathiane derivative through the intermediate fullerene radical anion

We have discovered a selective and efficient method for the synthesis of previously unknown 1,9-(1′,4′-oxathiano)-1,9-dihydro-(C₆₀-I_h)[5,6]fullerene, a compound with the direct attachment of the sulfur atom to the fullerene core. The method is based on the reaction of C₆₀ with 1,2-hydroxythiols in the presence of inorganic bases in air under ultrasonication. The significance of ultrasound has been exemplified with the comparative conventional methods. The title compound has been identified with mass-(MALDI TOF/TOF), one- and two-dimensional NMR ¹H and ¹³C (COSY, HSQC, HMBS), IR, UV–Vis spectroscopic techniques. Using the direct EPR method, we have detected radical anion C₆₀^– (g = 2.0046 and ΔH = 2 G) as a key reaction intermediate of the sonochemical reaction. Based on the experimental results and quantum chemical calculations, we have proposed a mechanism for the conversion of C₆₀ and 2-mercaptoethanol to the C₆₀–1,4-oxathiane adduct.     

Photoinduced intramolecular electron-transfer reactions in carbazole-fullerene and phenothiazine-fullerene linked compounds in benzene and benzonitrile as studied by fluorescence, transient absorption, time-resolved EPR, and magnetic field effects

Photoinduced intramolecular electron-transfer reactions in carbazole (Cz)-fullerene (C₆₀) (Cz(8)C₆₀) and phenothiazine (Ph)-C₆₀ (Ph(n)C₆₀ (n=8, 10, 12)) linked compounds have been investigated in benzene and benzonitrile by fluorescence, transient absorption, and time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance measurements, and by magnetic field effects on the decay rate constants of the photogenerated biradicals. In benzonitrile, photoinduced intramolecular electron transfer from Cz to the singlet excited state of C₆₀ (¹C₆₀ ^*) occurred in Cz(8)C₆₀, but not to the triplet excited state (³C₆₀ ^*), while the intramolecular electron-transfer to both¹C₆₀ ^* and³C₆₀ ^* occurred in Ph(n)C₆₀ (n=8, 10, 12). In benzene, on the other hand, no electron transfer to both¹C₆₀ ^* and³C₆₀ ^* took place in all linked compounds. These results were interpreted in terms of the different Gibbs free energy changes in the two solvents.     

Functionalization of pentagon–pentagon edges of fullerenes by cyclic polysulfides: A DFT study

We have performed a computational study to investigate the cyclosulfurization of the pentagon–pentagon (p–p) junctions in the non-IPR fullerenes C₆₀(D₃) and C₇₀(C_2v), and also Stone-Wales defective C₆₀ fullerene. Our results indicate the exothermic character of cyclosulfurization processes which can be related to the increase of pyramidalization angle (spherical excesses) and p characters of natural hybrid orbitals of C atoms at the p–p junctions. In fact these lead to the structural strain relief and stability of the cyclosulfurization derivatives of the non-IPR fullerenes. Moreover, the cyclosulfurization reaction of p–p bonds on the C₇₀(C_2v) is more energetically favorable than that of C₆₀(D₃), due to the higher curvature of carbon sites and the larger values of the p characters of natural hybrid orbitals in the C₇₀(C_2v). On the other hand, localization of the excess electrons on the C atoms at the p–p junctions leads to the low tendency of the charged non-IPR fullerenes to cyclosulfurization process. The desulfurization pathway of the exohedral derivatives of C₇₀(C_2v) indicates that it is energetically unfavorable for the functionalized fullerenes to break into individual fullerene and sulfur molecules. HOMO–LUMO gaps almost are independent of the number of pentathiepin rings while sensitive to the type of parent fullerene.     

A quantum-chemical study of intermediates of the 1O2 photogeneration sensitized by buckminsterfullerene and accompanying photochemical reactions

The intermediates of hypothetical photochemical reactions that accompany the quenching of the ³C ₆₀ ^* triplet state by triplet oxygen are studied by the (U)PBE0 quantum-chemical method. The diradical C₆₀-O-O formed from ³O₂ and photoexcited buckminsterfullerene ³C ₆₀ ^* is characterized by a negative binding energy ?1.11 eV (with respect to C₆₀ and ³O₂), the singlet-triplet splitting ΔE _ST of 0.07 eV, and the dipole moment of 3.2 D at the equilibrium internuclear separations 1.522 Å (CO) and 1.294 Å (OO). Its decay produces ¹O₂. The formation of a dioxetane circle lowers the energy by 0.8 eV. The ground-state energy of diketone C₅₈(C=O)₂ is 2.0 eV lower than the energy of C₆₀-O-O. The metastable centrosymmetric diradical C₆₀-C₆₀, formed upon ineffective light absorption by clusters (C₆₀)_N, has a single interpolyhedral C-C bond (1.657 Å). Its triplet state T ₁ lies 0.16 eV higher than the S ₁ singlet. The S ₁ → S ₀ relaxation leads to the formation of a stable C₆₀-C₆₀ dimer with a shorter (1.584 Å) bis-single exothermic (+0.24 eV) bond of polyhedra. The photoexcited C₆₀-C₆₀ dimer is able to form isomeric metastable diradicals C₆₀-C₆₀-O-O.     

C60 molecular configurations leading to ferromagnetic exchange interactions in TDAE*C60

The charge-transfer salt tetrabis(dimethylamino)ethylene-fullerene (C₆₀), or TDAE*C₆₀, is a rare exception among pure organic crystalline systems, because it shows a transition to a ferromagnetic (FM) state with fully saturated s=1/2 molecular spins at a respectable T _c=16 K. In spite of extensive experimental and theoretical work over the past ten years, the origin of the ferromagnetism in TDAE*C₆₀ has remained a mystery. To resolve this problem, we performed a comparative structural study of two different magnetic forms of TDAE*C₆₀ crystals, one of which is magnetic and the other is nonmagnetic at low temperatures, and fully correlated their structural properties (particularly, the intermolecular orientations) with their magnetic properties. We identified the relative orientation of C₆₀ molecules along the c axis as the primary variable that controls the ferromagnetic order parameter and showed that both FM and low-temperature spin-glass-like ordering are possible in this material, depending on the orientational state of the C₆₀ molecules. Thus, we resolved the apparent contradictions intrinsic to different macroscopic measurements and opened a path to a microscopic understanding of p-electron FM exchange interactions.     

Radiation-stimulated modification of C60 films on Si-oxide surfaces

The electronic structure of C₆₀/SiO_x/Si(1 0 0) interface was studied by photoemission (valence-bands, C 1s, and Si 2p core levels) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (C 1s threshold) spectroscopies. It was concluded that the SiO_x/Si surface is non-reactive with respect to the interaction with C₆₀. The exposure of the C₆₀/SiO_x/Si system under non-monochromatic synchrotron radiation causes modification of the electronic structure of this system. It is explained by polymerization of the C₆₀ molecules and arising a strong ionic-like interaction of the polymerized C₆₀ with the SiO_x surface. Annealing of this system up to temperatures of 550–625 °C leads to complete desorption of the C₆₀ molecules from the non-irradiated sample areas while the modified by radiation fullerenes remain attached to the substrate.     

Fullerene-like Si60C60 nanocage: Hydrogen storage capacity

For investigating the hydrogen storage capacity of the Si₆₀C₆₀ nanocage, we have performed first principle density functional theory calculations with van der waals corrections. According to the force and energy minimization of the complex structures of nH₂@Si₆₀C₆₀, we have found that the systems with n = 1 to 70 are energetically favorable. We also found that the most stable nH₂@Si₆₀C₆₀ system is related to the systems with n close to 50 which make it possible to reach 4.2 wt% of hydrogen storage. Although it is found that the nH₂@Si₆₀C₆₀ system remains stable up to n = 70 and 5.8 wt%. The NPT molecular dynamic investigation at different pressures (0–30 atm) and also different temperatures (300–1800 K) were carried out on the optimized stable system with maximum capacity of encapsulating H₂ molecules (70H₂@Si₆₀C₆₀).     

Simulation of the thermal fragmentation of fullerene C60

Defect formation and annealing processes in fullerene C₆₀ at T = (4000–6000) K are studied using molecular dynamics with a tight-binding potential. The cluster lifetime until fragmentation, which proceeds, as a rule, through the loss of a C₂ dimer, has been found as a function of temperature. The activation energy and the frequency factor in the Arrhenius equation for the fragmentation rate have been found to be E _a = (9.2 ± 0.4) eV and A = (8 ± 1) × 10¹⁹s^?1. It is shown that fragmentation can occur already after the C₆₀ cluster loses its spherical shape. This fact must be taken into account in theoretical calculations of E _a.     

Electron energy-loss studies of NaxC60 compounds

The crystal and electronic structure of Na_xC₆₀ (4< x < 10) has been investigated using electron energy-loss spectroscopy in transmission. Electron scattering experiments confirm that the crystal symmetry remains face centered cubic over the entire intercalation range. The electronic structure shows a close similarity for the Na₆C₆₀ and Na₄C₆₀ compounds compared to the corresponding K and Rb systems. Upon intercalation to higher stochiometries up to Na₁₀C₆₀ the charge transfer from sodium to C₆₀ turns out to be incomplete, something that has never been observed before in alkali intercalated systems. Current theoretical calculations indicate that this can be understood by taking into account additional states related to the Na atoms in the octahedral site. In Na₁₀C₆₀ the partial filling of the t_1G level of C₆₀ leads to additional electronic transitions near the Fermi energy.