Fullerene Polymers: Synthetic Strategies, Properties and Applications

Abstract

AbstractA general overview of the different C60‐containing polymers according to their chemical structure and the general synthetic routes followed for their preparation as well as their potential applications is presented. The many fullerene‐containing polymers reported in the recent literature have been classified depending upon the position of the fullerenes within the polymer chain and considering the type of chemical connectivity between them.The combination of fullerenes and polymer chemistry is a new interdisciplinary field in which all the knowledge on the synthesis and study of natural, as well as artificial macromolecules, can be applied to fullerenes to achieve novel fullerene‐based architectures. The combination of the unique properties of C60with the characteristics of well‐known polymers, often allow chemists to create new materials with combined features. In some cases, novel unprecedented properties open the doors to new realistic applications.In this article, a general overview of the different types of C60‐containing polymers according to their chemical structure and the consideration of their general synthetic routes as well as their plausible applications is given.The aim of this work is to establish a classification of the many fullerene‐containing polymers reported in the literature in order to clarify the field for all those chemists interested in the topic. Nevertheless to say that not all the examples known are covered, but those more representative or appealing for the authors. For a more comprehensive presentation the readers are referred to a recent review on the same topic.