Preparation of mesoporous poly(fullerene oxide) framework by thermal [3 + 2] cycloadditions and its application as a semiconductor photocatalyst

Abstract

We report the formation of an interconnected, three-dimensional, mesoporous polymeric fullerene oxide framework via thermal [3 + 2] cyclo-additions of monomeric C60 and fullerene oxides (C60On), formed upon thermal decomposition of C60Br24, causing the eliminations of bromine atoms in an oxygen atmosphere at an elevated temperature of 200 °C. The newly formed mesoporous fullerene oxide framework is found to be a low bandgap semiconductor capable of acting as a photocatalyst similar to graphitic C3N4. The sunlight-assisted photocatalytic degradation of the methylene blue dye is demonstrated. To have a better understanding of the mechanism of the [3 + 2] cyclo-additions of monomeric C60 and fullerene oxides, a theoretical investigation has been carried out and the energetics of the reaction C60O + C60 → C120O is calculated.