Synthesis and characterization of hybrid materials formed by C60 in situ decorating copper clusters

Hybrid materials (Cu–C₆₀) formed by C₆₀ decorating the surface of copper clusters were prepared through pulsed laser ablation at the interface between copper solid target and a flowing fullerene solution of hexane. UV–Vis shows that the feature absorption intensity of C₆₀ in the copper–fullerene–hexane sol decreases, and the increased absorption band of copper-cluster sol can also be found between 190 nm and 240 nm. Element analysis indicates that copper clusters in the sample (Cu–C₆₀) are decorated mainly by C₆₀. HRTEM identified that copper clusters are decorated by C₆₀; XRD reveals that the diffraction peaks of the sample have lower value and broader width than pure copper, indicating the surface of copper clusters is decorated by an amorphous material. Magnetism tested by VSM indicated that the sample has one Curie point at 203 K, suggesting that high temperature, high pressure and very rapidly cooled microarea in the method of PLA/ISFL are of importance in affecting the magnetic property of the hybrid material.