Solid-State NMR Studies of Fullerene C60/Benzene Solvates

Abstract

Stable van der Waals-bonded C60/benzene solvates were prepared using a novel crystallization technique. Solid-state NMR measurements on highly crystalline solvate under liquid benzene show that there is very little interaction between benzene and the C60 molecules and that the rotation of C60 at room temperature is not hindered. The magnetization transfer between benzene protons and local C60 molecules is highly inefficient. Three benzene species have been found in the solvate: two, nearly freely mobile, in wide and narrow porous structures, and the third constrained by C60 molecules in lattice defects. Premelting of deuterated benzene within the C60 solvate has been observed at Tm − 10.5 K.