Preparation of Novel Cuprous Oxide−Fullerene[60] Core−Shell Nanowires and Nanoparticles via a Copper(I)-Assisted Fullerene-Polymerization Reaction

Abstract

A copper(I) (Cu(I))-assisted fullerene (C60)-polymerization method has been developed for the seamless coating on nanosized objects of cuprous oxide (Cu2O), forming novel Cu2O−C60 core−shell nanostructures. It is based on a reaction of C60 and ethyl isocyanoacetate to form polymerized fulleropyrolines, catalyzed by and thus coated on the Cu2O nanomaterials. Cu2O nanoribbons and nanocubes were used in this work to demonstrate the nanocoating method. The Cu2O−C60 core−shell nanostructures were characterized comprehensively, revealing a uniform, covalently polymerized C60 shell that closely sheaths the Cu2O nanostructures. Details of the Cu(I)-assisted C60-polymerization process are proposed, which combines the solution chemistry and surface chemistry of C60. The Cu2O cores in the composite nanocubes could be removed, yielding monodispersed C60 nanoboxes. Preliminary measurements demonstrated enhanced photocurrent of the Cu2O−C60 nanoribbons arrayed on Cu foil compared to that of the Cu2O nanoribbons.