Polymeric fullerene hydrides. Birch reduction of [60] fullerene polymers from solution-based photopolymerization and free radical polymerization reactions

Fullerene polymers represent a new class of carbon materials for potential hydrogen storage applications. Poly[60]fullerene polymers were obtained by covalently linking [60]fullerene molecules in photochemical reactions. [60]Fullerene polymers were also prepared in free radical reactions of [60]fullerene with radical initiator benzoyl peroxide. The polymeric [60]fullerene materials were hydrogenated under Birch reduction conditions. The hydrides, which contain ≈3.5% (wt/wt) of hydrogen, were characterized by use of gel permeation chromatography, NMR, FT-IR, and elemental analysis. The results are compared with those of monomeric [60]fullerene hydrides.