Aqueous dispersions of C60 fullerene by use of amphiphilic block copolymers: preparation and nonlinear optical properties

G Mountrichas; S Pispas; E Xenogiannopoulou; P Aloukos; S Couris

doi:10.1021/jp068796x

Aqueous dispersions of C60 fullerene by use of amphiphilic block copolymers: preparation and nonlinear optical properties

J Phys Chem B. 2007 May 3;111(17):4315-9. doi: 10.1021/jp068796x. Epub 2007 Apr 6.

Authors

G Mountrichas¹, S Pispas, E Xenogiannopoulou, P Aloukos, S Couris

Affiliation

¹ Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635 Athens, Greece.

PMID: 17411086
DOI: 10.1021/jp068796x

Abstract

The dispersion of the otherwise insoluble C60 fullerene in water is discussed. Amphiphilic block copolymers, namely, polystyrene-b-polyethylene oxide (PS-PEO), were found to be able to disperse C60 in aqueous solutions, where the polymer forms micelles with a hydrophobic PS core. The preparation protocol of the final solutions was found to play a crucial role in the ability of the block copolymer to disperse the C60 molecules. The C60 containing aggregates were studied using optical spectroscopy, light scattering, and scanning electron microscopy. In addition, their optical limiting action and nonlinear optical properties under visible nanosecond laser excitation were studied and compared with that of C60-toluene solutions.