Hydration and dispersion of C60 in aqueous systems: the nature of water-fullerene interactions.
The nature of fullerene-water interactions and the role that they play in the fate of C60 in aqueous systems is poorly understood. This work provides spectroscopic evidence for the surface hydroxylation of the initially hydrophobic C60 molecule when immersed in water. This mechanism appears to be the basis for stabilizing the hydrophilic nC60 aggregates in suspension. It is remarkable that such a chemical transformation and dispersion are achieved under mild conditions that are readily produced in an aquatic environment. This acquired affinity for water is likely to play a subsequent role in the reactivity, mobility, and bioavailability of fullerenes in aqueous media.
Labille
Jérôme
J
CEREGE, CNRS and Aix-Marseille University, Europole Mediterraneen de l'Arbois, BP80, 13545 Aix en Provence Cedex 04, France. labille@cerege.fr
Masion
Armand
A
Ziarelli
Fabio
F
Rose
Jérôme
J
Brant
Jonathan
J
Villiéras
Frédéric
F
Pelletier
Manuel
M
Borschneck
Daniel
D
Wiesner
Mark R
MR
Bottero
Jean-Yves
JY