Determination of the dielectric constant of nanoparticles. 1. Dielectric measurements of buckminsterfullerene solutions

The static dielectric constant epsilon of buckminsterfullerene (C-60) parti cles is determined in cis-decalin, toluene, and 1,2-dichlorobenzene using c ontinuum models for spherical and spherical shell inclusions. The value for epsilon for isolated C-60 in cis-decalin and toluene agrees well with mole cular beam measurements using a spherical shell model, but the epsilon esti mate in the highly polar solvent 1,2-dichlorobenzene deviated from these ot her measurements. Complications of measurements in highly polar solvents ar e summarized. We conclude that virial measurements have a great potential f or determining the effective properties of nanoparticles from the propertie s of nanofilled materials over a range of dilute filler concentrations.