Electrochemical nanostructuring of C60 layers in aqueous solutions

Electrochemical nanostructuring in aqueous solution

The electrochemistryof fullerene films is different to that of single molecules in solution and depends strongly on the structure
of the film.

Charge injection during electrochemical reduction in aqueous solution of highly ordered C₆₀ films on HOPG is irreversible. The surface of the fullerene film changes from a
heteroepitaxially grown flat surface with molecular terraces
into a nanostructured cluster arrangement. These clusters are
20 to 50 nm in lateral size [see also Ref. 1 & 2]:

The C₆₀ molecules are transformed at a yield of ≥95%. Intermediately formed C₆₀^- anions undergo chemical follow-up reactions with themselves and with water. (C₆₀)_n  polymers (n up to 50) and hydrogenated fullerenes, C₆₀H_m (m up to 38), are the main products of the electrochemical reduction.

The polymers are suggested to grow as three-dimensional
structures instead of linear chains, which accounts for the
observed cluster morphology. The polymeric fullerene structures
can be re-transformed to pristine C₆₀ by moderate
annealing in vacuum, whereas the hydrogenated fullerenes
remain unchanged during the thermal treatment.

Contact

Prof. Lothar Dunsch