Self-organization C-60 nanoparticles in toluene solution

The structure of fullerene C-60 in toluene solution was investigated both e xperimentally and theoretically in detail. C-60 was found to aggregate slow ly even in fairly dilute solution concentrations ranging from 0.18 to 0.78 g/l at room temperature. The electronic absorption spectra obtained testify to the mainly molecular character of absorption. The aggregation kinetics results indicated that the structure of C-60 aggregates could be described as a fractal system. The numerical calculations predicted the formation of stable fullerene (C-60)(N) clusters in toluene solution with sizes >1.2 run and aggregation number N greater than or equal to3. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scie nce B.V. All rights reserved.