Ordering fullerene materials at nanometer dimensions.
The combination of the hydrophobic fullerene core with hydrophilic functional groups of both ionic and nonionic nature produces organized structures with sizes that range from nanometer to micrometer length scales. The driving force toward this spontaneous organization is the amphiphilic character of the fullerene derivatives. To control both shape and size of the supramolecular assemblies and ultimately their function, important parameters that must be tuned are (i) the balance between the hydrophobic and the hydrophilic moieties, (ii) the effect of the environment, typically provided by simple solvents, (iii) the interface on which the aggregation occurs or, more precisely, surface templating effects, and (iv) the solvation process.
Guldi
Dirk M
DM
Institute for Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Universität Erlangen, 91058 Erlangen, Germany. dirk.guldi@chemie.uni-erlangen.de
Zerbetto
Francesco
F
Georgakilas
Vasilios
V
Prato
Maurizio
M
D000388:Air; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry; D037741:Fullerenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods; D008958:Models, Molecular; D036103:Nanotechnology; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D004573:Electrolytes; D037741:Fullerenes; D012997:Solvents; D014867:Water