Studies on metallofullerene (Dy@C82) embedded in a DDAB film in aqueous solution

The electrochemical behavior of metallofullerene (Dy@C82) in didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) films deposited on glassy carbon, quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) gold crystals, and indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes in aqueous solution was investigated in detail. Four pairs of reversible redox peaks were observed, and for the first time, these peaks were characterized by vis/NIR spectroscopy. Different from previous fullerene/cationic lipid modified electrodes, one oxidation and three reduction processes were observed. The stability of Dy@C82 and its ions in the film toward air was detected by measuring its cyclic voltammogram after holding the potentials for 10 s, followed by introducing 10 microL of air to the solution. Dy@C82 and its first three anions are stable toward air and water, while some chemical reactions take place when the third anion is further reduced in the film. Dy@C82+ is less stable than Dy@C82- toward water and air. The electrochemical processes were measured in different electrolytes, which showed pronounced anionic dependence on either its cation or anions. The electrochemical processes were also monitored using electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM), and from the result a possible electron-transfer mechanism of a Dy@C82/DDAB electrode in aqueous solution was presented. It showed that the anions of Dy@C82 were bound to the DDA+ cation in the film, while the anions of electrolyte diffused into the film to compensate the positive charges when a cation of Dy@C82 was generated.