Preparation and Properties of C60-Polysiloxane Hybrids

C₆₀-polysiloxane hybrids were prepared by the reaction of triethoxysilylated C₆₀ (TES-C₆₀) with methylpolysiloxane (MPS) or , -dihydroxypolydimethylsiloxane (STPDS). TES-C₆₀ was synthesized by hydrosilylation using triethoxysilane and C₆₀ in the presence of chloroplatinic acid. TES-C₆₀ was mixed with MPS and heated to provide a bulk body of C₆₀ containing polysiloxane hybrid in a Si/C₆₀ molar ratio of 1000:500. The formation of this hybrid is based on the hydrolytic polycondensation of TES-C₆₀ and MPS to fix C₆₀ into the silica matrix by a chemical bond. TES-C₆₀ and STPDS also provide an isolatable thin film of C₆₀ containing polysiloxane hybrid by an ethanol-forming condensation reaction. Because no gelation was observed when only STPDS was aged, it is thought that TES-C₆₀ serves as a cross-linking point in gel formation.