On C60 fullerene photopolymerization

C60 photopolymerization has been studied in the solvents CCl4 , CH2Cl2 , cyclohexane and decalin. Irradiation of C60 solutions under nitrogen flow produced C60 photopolymers, the structure of which was studied by electronic and FTIR spectroscopy and found to be comparable to that of C60 photopolymers prepared by solid-state photopolymerization or by C60 piezopolymerization (polymerization under high pressure). The role of oxygen as photopolymerization inhibitor in cyclohexane and in the formation of oxygenated photopolymers in halogenated solvents has been investigated and is discussed. The effect of light wavelength on the photopolymerization has been investigated and is discussed. It was found that for λ>265 nm, CCl4 is photolysed and plays a role in promoting its photopolymerization, while for λ>300 nm no interference from CCl4 occurs. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry