Electrochemical nanostructuring of C60 layers in ionic liquids
Electrochemical behaviour of ordered C60 layers in ionic liquids was studied by AFM, FTIR and in situ Raman spectroscopy at room temperature in the potential range of the first and the second reduction step. The composition of the ionic liquid as well as the counter ion were changed to influence the film morphology, the electrochemistry and the electronic properties of the films.
Fullerene films on HOPG have a high stability during the electrochemical reduction. Thereby the film morphology was completely changed and clusters of an average size of 300 nm were formed. This is by a factor of approximately 10 larger than for nanostructuring in aqueous solution [see also Ref. 3].
The most homogenous films were obtained in 1-Butyl-3-methyl-imidazoliumtetrafluoroborate (BMIMBF4) with an addition of LiCF3SO3 [3]. In situ Raman spectroelectrochemistry showed an almost complete transformation of the C60 film in the first reduction step, what is similar to the behaviour in aqueous solution. However, whereas the electrochemistry in aqueous solution was completely irreversible, a partial re-oxidation of the reduced C60 film was observed in ionic liquids.
Contact
Prof. Lothar Dunsch
| Address: | IFW Dresden |
| Helmholtzstraße 20 01069 Dresden |
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| Germany | |
| Phone: | +49 351 4659 660 |
| Fax: | +49 351 4659 811 |
| Email: | L.Dunsch@ifw-dresden.de |