Charge-transfer reactions between C-60 and hydrophilic solutes

Abstract

Two different procedures for dissolving fullerene molecule C-60 into aqueous solutions have been developed. Embedding C-60 clusters into a water-soluble host molecule of gamma-cyclodextrin resulted in relatively low concentration of C-60 (5-10 mu M). Prepare of a stable ionic surfactant/water/oil microemulsion provided a method for dissolving C-60 in relatively high concentrations (1 mM). In both cases charge-transfer reactions between hydrophobic molecule of C-60 and hydrophilic solutes were examined. Anion radical C-60(-) was detected in reaction with radiolytically produced radicals (e(aq)(-), (CH3)(2)(C) over dotOH or MV+), and in reaction with excess electrons stored onto nanometer-sized metal (Ag) or quantized semiconductor (TiO2) particles.