Fullerenes in Liquid Media: An Unsettling Intrusion into the Solution Chemistry

Towards better understanding of C60organosols

“…[8][9][10][11][12][13][14] While in low-polar aromatic solvents, fullerenes are well solvated and relatively well dissolved, 14,15 in water they generate hydrosols and suspensions. 5,11,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] In highly polar organic solvents, the molecular solubility of fullerenes is negligible, 14,15 but they readily form colloidal solutions. [9][10][11][12][13][14][31][32][33][34][35] The state of fullerenes, either molecular or colloidal, in the so-called 'good' or 'strong' solvents, such as CS 2 , toluene, and benzene, is still a matter of discussion.…”

“…5,11,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] In highly polar organic solvents, the molecular solubility of fullerenes is negligible, 14,15 but they readily form colloidal solutions. [9][10][11][12][13][14][31][32][33][34][35] The state of fullerenes, either molecular or colloidal, in the so-called 'good' or 'strong' solvents, such as CS 2 , toluene, and benzene, is still a matter of discussion. 8,10,11,14,[36][37][38][39][40] Some authors believe that in such a case, aggregates appear only as a result of sonication.…”

“…[9][10][11][12][13][14][31][32][33][34][35] The state of fullerenes, either molecular or colloidal, in the so-called 'good' or 'strong' solvents, such as CS 2 , toluene, and benzene, is still a matter of discussion. 8,10,11,14,[36][37][38][39][40] Some authors believe that in such a case, aggregates appear only as a result of sonication. 11 The aggregates (if any) in 'good' solvents are unstable, destroyed by hand-shaking, 8 and their formation may be (partly) caused by interaction with oxygen.…”

“…8,38,41 In contrast, in polar or 'poor' organic solvents, the formation of colloidal species is undoubtedly proven. 9,[11][12][13][14][31][32][33][34][35] Typical examples are aggregates in N-methylpyrrolidin-2-one-acetonitrile mixed solvent, 3 toluene (benzene) mixtures with acetonitrile, 9,12,36 N-methylpyrrolidin-2-one 11,33 and other polar solvents, 13 DMSO, 31 acetonitrile, acetone, ethanol, methanol, and other polar solvents. 32,35,42 Though the stability and coagulation of aqueous C 60 colloids via electrolytes has been examined in full, 14,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][43][44][45][46][47][48][49] the corresponding research for organosols is absent to the best of the authors knowledge.…”

“…14,50 It is difficult to imagine, however, analogous influence of the corresponding lyate ions, e.g., CH 2 CN À , in the polar solvents with an ionic product of ca. 10 À30 or less.…”