Electrochemical detection of C-60 in solution - Is tetrahydrofuran a suitable solvent for fullerene studies?

The electrochemistry of C-60 in tetrahydrofuran/tetrabutylammonium hexafluo rophosphate (THF/TBAH) solutions was thoroughly investigated, and particula r attention was devoted to possible interactions occurring between the full erene and this medium and leading to irreversible modification of C-60 itse lf. Either untreated or carefully purified solvent was used in the experime nts, showing that only in the latter case can reliable results be obtained, the occurrence of irreversible reactions between C-60 and an impurity pres ent in traces (probably peroxides) having been monitored by both cyclic vol tammetry (CV) and absorption spectroscopy. (C) 1999 The Electrochemical Soc iety. S0013-4651(99)01-008-3. All rights reserved.