Synthesis And Properties Of Fullerene C₆₀ Nano/Microfibers

Crystalline fullerene C₆₀ nano / microfibers were prepared by a liquid–liquid interfacial precipitation (LLIP) method, which used a pyridine or toluene solution of C₆₀ and isopropyl alcohol(IPA). In this paper, the fullerene C₆₀ fibers, which have high aspect ratio of length to diameter, typically a submicrometer diameter and millimeters long were briefly called fullerene C₆₀ nano / microfibers(FNFs). FNFs include both fullerene C₆₀ nanotubes (FNTs) with hollow structure and fullerene C₆₀ nanowhiskers (FNWs) with solid structure.FNTs were successfully fabricated by the LLIP method, which used a pyridine solution of C₆₀ and isopropyl alcohol. We discussed in detail of the synthesis conditions and the growth mechanism of FNTs. It was found that the C₆₀ saturated pyridine solution irradiated by blue or green light could accelerate the growth of FNTs. The formation of 1:1 charge-transfer complexes between pyridine and C₆₀ molecules and the stacking way of them closely related to the formation of FNTs. In the last, we systematically studied the composition, structure, morphology and properties of FNTs by using POM, SEM, TEM, XRD spectra, FT-IR spectra, UV-Vis spectra,Raman spectra,TG-DTG analysis,etc.It was found that there were excellent optical and magnetic anisotropy implid in FNTs and it's thermal stability was no better than C₆₀ and FNWs. By flowing method, FNTs in the polyvinyl alcohol and acrylate achieved a good dispersion and orientation.FNWs were successfully fabricated by the LLIP method, which used a toluene solution of C₆₀ and IPA.The composition, structure and morphology of FNWs were investigated by using POM, SEM, TEM, Raman spectra and TG-DTG analysis .It was found that adjusting the temperature between toluene and isopropyl alcohol could accelerate the growth of FNWs. Fullerene C₆₀ nanospheres, C₆₀ sheets were successfully fabricated by the evaporation and infiltration method between the two-phase solvent,pyridine and isopropyl alcohol. Fullerene C₆₀ nanorods were also obtained through concentration depletion at surfaces of seeds.The structure of Fullerene C₆₀ nanospheres, C₆₀ sheets and C₆₀ nanorods were systematically investigated by using POM, SEM, TEM and selected area electron diffraction.