C60H18, C60H36 and C70H36 Fullerene Hydrides: Study by Methods of IR, NMR, XPS, EELS and Magnetochemistry

Fullerene hydrides of C₆₀H₁₈, C₆₀H₃₆ and C₇₀H₃₆ are studied by using IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, X-ray photoelectron and electron energy loss spectroscopies, and magnetochemistry. The comparison of IR and solid state ¹H and ¹³C NMR data for C₆₀H₃₆ with the theoretical ones allows the suggestion that fullerene hydride has a T symmetric structure and contains 4 isolated benzenoid rings located at tetrahedral positions on the surface of a closed skeleton of the molecule. The EELS revealed that the transition from fullerene to the hydride is accompanied by the decrease of the density of valence electrons. Magnetization measurements showed C₆₀H₃₆ to be a ferromagnet. The hydrogenated fullerenes were prepared by transfer hydrogenation procedures involving 9,10-dihydroanthracene. The compositions of the hydrides are determined by field desorption mass-spectral analysis.     

Electronic Structure of C60, CuPc, and C60/CuPc Nanoparticles and their Layers

The idea to form C₆₀/CuPc dispersed nanoheterojunctions by photoexcitation of a mixture of C₆₀ and CuPc nanoparticles has been realized. The electronic structure of the nanoparticles and dispersed nanoheterojunctions formed in the mixture has been characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy and the comparing with known experimental ultraviolet photoelectron spectra and theoretical models of electronic structure of these molecules. For the mixture of C₆₀ and CuPc nanoparticles in toluene and their coating layer on the quartz substrate the band offsets of the edges of CuPc VB and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of C₆₀ band are ΔE=1.55 eV and 1.4 eV, respectively. These results show clearly the presence of C₆₀/CuPc dispersed nanoheterojunctions in the solution and on the quartz surface.     

Thermally Activated Decay Processes of Isolated Superhot C60 in Molecular Beams

We have studied thermally activated decay processes of an ensemble of isolated superhot C₆₀ molecules in molecular beams by several different methods. Highly vibrationally excited C₆₀ molecules in effusive or supersonic beams (with average vibrational energy of 10-20 eV) were generated in an all ceramic, two-stage high temperature nozzle source. the decay kinetics due to various decay processes of the initially canonical ensemble was followed by a mass spectrometric methods for a large range of initial temperatures (T_o=1100 - 1950 K). the processes studied are: (1) fragmentation (C₂ emission) of the neutral C₆₀ (2) C₂ emission from the C⁺₆₀ ions (3) black-body like radiative cooling, and (4) delayed electron emission. the experiments described here are: (a) Depletion of the integrated C₆₀ flux. (b) Analysis of C₆₀ time-of-flight distributions. (c) Dependence of electron impact induced ionization/ fragmentation of C₆₀ upon its initial thermal excitation, and (d) Thermal energy dependence of delayed electron emission. It is shown that thermal kinetics models using a single set of independently measured parameters uniquely reproduce all the experimental observations. the models take into account the different cooling processes and their time evolution. We analyze in detail the evolution of the initially canonical vibrational energy distribution during the flight time to the detector as it is gradually being distorted due to evaporative and radiative cooling mechanisms. It is concluded that the correct parameters to be used for describing the thermally activated decay kinetics of superhot C₆₀ are activation energy of E_o = 4.3 - 4.8 eV for the neutral fragmentation channel C₆₀ → C₅₈ + C₂ and E₁=4.0 - 4.3 for the ion fragmentation channel C⁺₆₀→ C⁺₅₈ + C₂, and corresponding pre-exponential factors of A_o = A₁ = 2.5 × 10¹³ sec^-1. the emissivity coefficient for black body like radiation was found to be ε = 4.5 × 10^-5.     

The Role of Boron Nitride in Graphite Plasma Arcs

Novel graphitic nanostructures (e.g. nanotubes, graphitic onions, polyhedral particles, hemitoroidal nanotube caps and branched nanotubes) are produced by arcing graphite electrodes, containing hexagonal-BN, in inert atmospheres. The introduction of BN or B inside the graphite anode generates long (≤ 20μm) and well graphitised carbon nanotubes exhibiting boron at their tips. High Resolution Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), Scaning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS) and X-ray powder diffraction studies reveal the production of B₄C crsytals, in addition to little amounts of BC₃ nanotubes. Mass spectrometry (MS) studies over the generated soots indicate high yields of large fullerenes (e.g. C₇₀, C₇₆, and C₈₄) and thermo-Gravimetric analysis (TGA) of the nanostructures show high oxidation resistance.     

Thermodynamic Properties and Hydrogen Accumulation Ability of Fullerene Hydride C60H36

Thermodynamic properties of fullerene hydride C₆₀H₃₆ in the ideal-gas and crystal states were studied by theoretical methods. Molecular structures and vibration frequencies were calculated for 9 isomers of C₆₀H₃₆ by the density functional theory (DFT) by use of a combination of the B3LYP functional with 6-31G* basis sets. Ideal-gas thermodynamic properties were calculated based on those parameters. Enthalpies of formation of C₆₀H₃₆ isomers in the ideal-gas state were derived from homodesmic reactions involving adamantane, cyclohexane, and C₆₀ fullerene. Using the standard methods of statistical mechanics, heat capacity and derived thermodynamic properties of crystalline C₆₀H₃₆ were calculated at 340-1000 K that extended the range of experimental measurements. With a crystal-gas heat capacity difference, the experimental value of sublimation enthalpy was extrapolated to room temperature as Δ_subH_m^o (298.15 K)=(193±10) kJ · mol^-1. Combining this value with the known experimental enthalpy of formation in the crystalline state, the ideal-gas enthalpy of formation of C₆₀H₃₆ at the synthesized sample isomer composition was obtained: Δ_f H_m^o (298.15 K)=(1206±28) kJ · mol^-1. Equilibrium constants and compositions were calculated for the reactions of hydrogenation of C₆₀ fullerene in different states. It was shown that C₆₀ can act as a hydrogen accumulator.     

Study of microstructure of epitaxial fullerenes films

A comprehensive study was made on the structure of epitaxial thin films of C₆₀ and C₇₀ by means of transmission electron microscopy. Both the films show similar face-centered cubic structure and are epitaxial on (001) mica with close-packed plane parallel to the substrate surface. Two main kinds of defects-stacking faults and twins-were observed and are discussed. The effect of the remaining C₇₀ impurity on the crystal orientation of C₆₀ films was studied by comparing different samples made from high-purity fullerene and C₆₀/C₇₀ mixtures. The results show that there is a higher density of planar defects in the films containing larger amounts of impurities: moreover, some faint anomalous reflections located at so-called 2a₀ fcc reciprocal lattice points were also detected, probably as a result of C₇₀ contamination. Finally, it is found that stacking disorders can be easily increased by keeping the high-quality pure C₆₀ film in air at room temperature for a few weeks, implying the instability of the crystal orientation of the epitaxial fullerene films.     

Bromination of [60]Fullerene. I. High-Yield Synthesis of C60Brx (x=6, 8, 24)

The systematic study of the bromination of C₆₀ was performed under various experimental conditions. Application of some chloroarenes as reaction media resulted in the high-yield (70-96%) selective synthesis of C₆₀Br₆ and C₆₀Br₈. Direct bromination of fullerene yielded either C₆₀Br₈, C₆₀Br₁₄, or C₆₀Br₂₄ depending on the reaction time. Possible pathways of bromination of C₆₀Br₈ were analyzed using semiempirical (AM1) calculations, two most probable molecular structures are conjectured for the first isolated C₆₀Br₁₄.     

Preparation, Separation and Characterisation of Fullerene - C60 and C70

This paper reports a simple apparatus for the synthesis of fullerenes and an efficient method for the separation of C₆₀ and C₇₀ in large amounts. The positive and negative ion mass spectra of C₆₀ and C₇₀ were measured using electron ionization and in-beam methods. Vibrational Raman spectra showed that the C₆₀ molecule adsorbed on the substrate surface may be distorted and its symmetry may be reduced under the action of the substrate surface.     

Structural transformations, reactions, and electronic properties of fullerenes, onions, and buckytubes

We describe the results of extensive quantum molecular dynamics calculations of the properties of fullerenes and microtubules. The topics to be discussed include: (i) stability of C₆₀ isomers and barriers to isomerization; (ii) reactivity of C₆₀ and C₅₈ with C₂ and C₃, and its implications on the formation and growth of fullerenes; and (iii) atomic and electronic structure and doping of semiconducting microtubules. We also discuss the structures, stabilities and atomic transformations of large multishell fullerenes and offer an explanation for the formation of spheroidal “onions” under high fluence electron irradiation conditions. The last results, which involved calculations for up to 15 000 atoms, were obtained using classical three-body potentials.     

Electron Microscopic Investigations of Transformations from C60 to Diamond, Filament and Microcapillary

We report the transformation of C₆₀ into diamond by electron beam pulse annealing of flash evaporated films (at 10^-6 torr) of C,₆₀, or by direct evaporation of C₆₀ in helium (100 torr) atmosphere. The formation of filament and microcapillaries (tubulene-like structures) by electron beam annealing of the C₆₀ deposit is also reported.     

Some New Aspects of Chlorination of Fullerenes

The effect of the reagent ratio, reaction time and power of the reagent on the product composition in chlorination of [60]fullerene was studied. Chlorofullerenes C₆₀Cl₆, C₆₀Cl₈, C₆₀Cl₁₀, C₆₀Cl₁₂, C₆₀Cl₁₄, and C₆₀Cl₂₆ were synthesized and characterized by chemical analysis, FTIR, ¹³C NMR, and MALDI TOF mass spectrometry. The experimental data supported the coexistence of several isomers of C₆₀Cl_n (n = 8, 10, 12, 14, 26); the mixtures were not separated so far. Semiempirical calculations (AM1, PM3) were used to analyze the addition patterns and resulted in the most favorable structures of C₆₀Cl_8-26. Chlorination of C₇₀ under various conditions invariably yielded C₇₀Cl₁₀.     

Study of the Submerged Electric Arc in Hexane in Presence of C60 Fullerene

The effect of the electric arc between graphite electrodes submerged in n-hexane solutions of C₆₀ fullerene has been studied by electronic absorption spectroscopy, liquid chromatographic analysis (HPLC-DAD), and FT-IR spectroscopy. The experimental results show that C₆₀ does not appear able to inhibit the polyynes' formation at the concentration used. Polyynes are formed in large amounts as usual from the graphite arc, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have been detected as by-products. Prolonged arcing causes the disappearance of C₆₀ from the solution. There is experimental evidence that C₆₀ undergoes radical addition reactions during the early stages of arcing.     

Electronic Properties of Buckminsterfullerenes: Degeneracies and Surprises

Buckminsterfullerene compounds exibit remarkable physics at low temperatures, e.g. high temperature superconductivity in alkali-fullerenes, and ferromagnetism in TDAE- C₆₀. Here we review recent theoretical studies of electron correlations in these compounds. In particular, we discuss models of electron-vibron interactions, electron-electron interactions, and intermolecular hopping. We show that the origin of novel electronic phases lies in local degeneracies of C₆₀; a direct consequence of the high molecular symmetry.     

Preparation of Two Novel C60 and C70 Fullerene Pyrrolidine Derivatives

C₆₀ reacted with paraformaldehyde and DL-valine in dry toluene under nitrogen to give a monoadduct. Under the similar conditions,C₇₀ gave a bisadduct. Both products were characterized by FT-IR,UV-Vis,EI-MS and NMR.The studies of the cyclic voltammetry showed that the abilities of donating electron of the products were increased compared to C₆₀ and C₇₀ respectively.     

Systematic search for energetically favored isomers of large fullerenes C122–C130 and C162–C180

Based on the methodology by Cioslowski et al. [J. Cioslowski, N. Rao, D. Moncrieff, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 122 (2000) 8265–8270], two empirical fit equations to predict the standard enthalpy of formation are obtained over large number of calculation results at B3LYP/6-31G* theory level for fullerene isomers, which can be used as a preliminary and second-level screening tool, respectively, for large fullerenes. By applying these equations in screening the whole isolated pentagon rule (IPR) isomers, the energetically favored isomers of large fullerenes C₁₂₂–C₁₃₀ and C₁₆₂–C₁₈₀ were predicted at the B3LYP/6-31G* density functional theory level for the first time. Our results show that the lowest energy isomers of C₁₇₄ (2473259: C_3v) and C₁₈₀ (4071832: I_h) possess much lower relative energy and larger HOMO–LUMO gaps. Moreover, the ionization energy and electron affinity of the lowest energy isomers were also investigated.     

Spontaneous Decay of Highly-Charged Fullerene Ions C60Z and C58z

Using isotope-resolved, two sector field mass spectrometric techniques we have identified and investigated quantitatively the energetics and kinetics (in particular the kinetic energy release, KER) of the spontaneous decay reactions C_60-2m^z+ → C_60-2m-p(z-1)+ ₊ C_p⁺ with m = 0 or 1, z ranging from 3 to 6 and p = 2 and 4. The obtained KER results are not compatible with the properties expected for a single-step fissioning reaction as described by the liquid drop model. Therefore the present data had to be interpreted by a different fragmentation mechanism. This novel reaction sequence, termed auto charge transfer (ACT) reaction, is initiated by the statistically driven neutral C₂ (or C₄₎ evaporation followed by an electron transfer process from the receding C₂ (or C₄) fragment to the remaining highly-charged fullerene ion thereby leading finally to the two charged reaction products observed in the exit channel of the decay reaction. Moreover, in the case that a C₂⁺ loss from C₆₀z+ is occurring in the first field-free region we have been able to demonstrate that it is possible to observe in the second field-free region a subsequent C₂ evaporation from the C₅₈(z-1)⁺ fragment ion.     

Metal-C60 Interface Interaction: Effects on Metal Dispersion in Co-Deposited Films

In case of a metal finely dispersed in a C₆₀ matrix, the metal-to-C₆₀ charge transfer lowers the interface energy. The total cohesive energy per metal atom E_tot was estimated for Au clusters in fullerite. The results show that, for a charge Q_f ≥ 1 electron (e) transferred from the metal clusters to each C₆₀ cage, a minimum appears in E_tot, defining a most stable cluster size. Thereby, the equilibrium dispersion state of the metal in the fullerite matrix depends on Q_f.     

Macroscopic Elastic Studies of Orientational Ordering in Single-Crystal Fullerites

We give an overview on dynamic mechanic experiments in single-crystal fullerites C₆₀ and C₇₀. Elastic properties and thermal expansion in the vicinity of ordering phase transitions were studied. Landau theory and simple microscopic models are used to describe the experimental results.     

Surface Dielectric Response of Collective Plasmon Excitations in C60 Fullerite

The paper begins with a review of available observations from electron-energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) on the excitation of multipolar plasmons in C₆₀. With these observations in the background, an electrodynamic formalism is developed for computing the response of collective plasma oscillations in a fullerite film subject to an external electric field. This formalism allows us to construct the dielectric response function relevant for applications to EELS in specular-reflection geometry. The only input required by the theory is a set of dynamical multipolar polarizabilities of an isolated molecule, which could be provided by a separate theory but which we simulate here by an empirical model consisting of a dielectric spherical shell. The surface loss function is computed for an fcc (111) film composed of such dielectric shells. Comparison with the few available experimental data indicates that quadrupole and higher-multipolar plasmons in fullerites contribute significantly to the long-range inelastic scattering mechanisms that lead to the reflection EELS spectrum.     

Structural Characterization of Selected MxC60 Phases (M=Li, Na, K) Synthesized Electrochemically in All-Solid-State Cells

Electroreduction of C₆₀ was carried out in all-solid-cells operating with polymer electrolytes composed of polyethylene oxide (PEO), and salts like LiClO₄, NaCF3SO₃ or KCF₃SO₃. Some selected reduced phases of C₆₀ were isolated and characterized by electron diffraction microscopy.