Monodispersed Fullerene Derivatives Introduced into the Channels of Mesoporous Silica via Chemical Bond Interactions

Abstract

Abstract A specific fullerene derivative, C60(CHCOOH)2, was introduced into the matrix network of well-ordered hexagonal mesoporous silica (SBA-15) via a chemical bond interaction. The methods included aminosilylation of the surface silanols within SBA-15 channels by 3-aminopropyl(trimethoxy)silane (APTS) and a subsequent amide reaction between amino groups of APTS/SBA-15 and carboxylic acids of C60(CHCOOH)2. The final material C60(CHCOOH)2/APTS/SBA-15 was confirmed by XRD, TEM, and BET techniques, FT-IR and UV–vis spectra. The [60]fullerene carboxylic derivative molecules were uniformly distributed in the channels of SBA-15, while pure [60]fullerene molecules remained as clusters or larger aggregate states.