A Method for the Synthesis of Uniform Fullerene Nanotubes

NSF Grant Number: EEC-0425826
PI(s): G. Miller
Student and Post-doctoral Researchers: K. Rauwerdink, J. Briggs
Institutions: University of New Hampshire

Objective:The goals of the research were to prepare uniform batches of [60]fullerene nanotubes with sub-500 nm outside diameters.

Broader Impact: [60]Fullerene nanotubes possess an interesting structure including a hollow interior that can be potentially filled with a variety of organic or inorganic materials. We believe that they are also ideally suited to be fullerene phases in bulk heterojunctions for organic thin-film photovoltaic applications. Work in this regard is underway.

Significant Results: We developed a technique to produce uniform batches of [60]fullerene nanotubes that have and outside diameter of approximately 300 nm and an inside diameter of approximately 100 nm.

TEM images of [60]fullerene nanotubes. The light regions in the interior of each [60]fullerene nanotubes correspond to hollow space.	Optical microscope image (600x magnification) of [60]fullerene nanotubes prepared using the modified Miyazawa liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation method described in the text.
A modified liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation of [60]fullerene nanotubes using pyridine-isopropanol. Left: vial immediately after layering; Right: a feathery, light yellow ball of fine [60]fullerene nanotubes.