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Published on: October 28, 2015
Fullerene oxidation and clustering in solution induced by light
Rajeev Dattani1, Kirsty F Gibson2, Sheridan Few3
1Centre for Plastic Electronics, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom; Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom.
Fullerene solutions degrade under light, forming oxidized clusters that grow over time. These reversible fullerene aggregates impact the stability of materials used in organic photovoltaics and composites.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Physical Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Fullerene solutions are crucial for applications like organic photovoltaics.
- Understanding fullerene stability is essential for reproducible material processing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the environmental stability of fullerene (C60) solutions.
- To determine the effects of light exposure on fullerene aggregation and structure.
Main Methods:
- Static and dynamic light scattering
- FTIR, NMR, and mass spectroscopies
- Quantum chemical calculations
Main Results:
- Visible light exposure causes C60 oxidation to fullerene epoxides.
- Fullerene solutions form fractal clusters (100 nm to μm) that grow over time.
- Aggregates are reversibly bound by Coulombic interactions.
Conclusions:
- Light-induced oxidation and aggregation limit fullerene solution stability.
- Control over fullerene aggregation is necessary for reliable performance in composites and organic photovoltaics.
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