Facile Method toward Hierarchical Fullerene Architectures with Enhanced Hydrophobicity and Photoluminescence

A two-step self-assembly strategy has been developed for the preparation of fullerene hierarchical architectures. Typically, the precipitation method is utilized to synthesize the initial fullerene microstructures, and subsequently a drop-drying process is employed to facilitate the fullerene microstructures to self-assemble into the final hierarchical structures. Overall, this methodology is quite simple and feasible, which can be applied to prepare fullerene hierarchical structures with different morphological features, simply by choosing proper solvent. Moreover, the as-obtained C₇₀ hierarchical structures have many superior properties over the original C₇₀ microrods such as superhydrophobicity and unique photoluminescence behaviors, promising their applications as waterproof optoelectronics

Lu₂@C₈₂ Nanorods with Enhanced Photoluminescence and Photoelectrochemical Properties

One-dimensional (1D) single-crystalline hexagonal nanorods of Lu₂@<i>C</i>_3<i>v</i>(8)–C₈₂ were prepared for the first time using the liquid–liquid interface precipitation (LLIP) method from the interfaces between carbon disulfide (CS₂) and isopropyl alcohol (IPA). The length of the nanorods can be readily controlled by varying the concentration of the Lu₂@C₈₂ solution in addition to the volume ratio of CS₂ to IPA. The latter factor also exhibits a significant influence on the morphology of the crystals. The crystalline structure of the nanorods has been investigated by XRD and selected area electron diffraction (SAED), suggesting a face-centered cubic structure. Photoluminescence of the Lu₂@C₈₂ nanorods shows a remarkable enhancement as compared to that of pristine Lu₂@C₈₂ powder because of the high crystallinity. Furthermore, we have investigated the photoelectrochemical properties of Lu₂@C₈₂ nanorods, proving their potential applications as photodetectors

Understanding Charge-Transfer Characteristics in Crystalline Nanosheets of Fullerene/(Metallo)porphyrin Cocrystals

Cocrystals in the form of crystalline nanosheets comprised of C₇₀ and (metallo)­porphyrins were prepared by using the liquid–liquid interfacial precipitation (LLIP) method where full control over the morphologies in the C₇₀/(metallo)­porphyrins nanosheets has been accomplished by changing the solvent and the relative molar ratio of fullerene to (metallo)­porphyrin. Importantly, the synergy of integrating C₇₀ and (metallo)­porphyrins as electron acceptors and donors, respectively, into nanosheets is substantiated in the form of a near-infrared charge-transfer absorption. The presence of the latter, as reflection of ground-state electron donor–acceptor interactions in the nanosheets, in which a sizable redistribution of charge density from the electron-donating (metallo)­porphyrins to the electron-accepting C₇₀ occurs, leads to a quantitative quenching of the localized (metallo)­porphyrin fluorescence. Going beyond the ground-state characterization, excited-state electron donor–acceptor interactions are the preclusion to a full charge transfer featuring formation of a radical ion pair state, that is, the one-electron reduced fullerene and the one-electron oxidized (metallo)­porphyrin