Fullerene molecules covalently functionalized with 12 carboxylic acid groups on its periphery were synthesized and its solution behavior was explored. The functionalized fullerene molecules behave as giant anions in polar solvents by showing strong attractions with each other and self-assembling into single-layer vesicular-like structures in solvents with medium polarities. The size of the assemblies can be tuned by changing the polarity of the solvents. More importantly, the transition between self-assembly and disassembly can be easily achieved by changing temperature. The discovery confirms that the semi-rigid clusters demonstrate the unique solution behavior of giant ions and open up a new way to assemble fullerene into functional materials and devices.

Strong attraction among the carboxylic acid-functionalized hydrophilic fullerene giant anions and the spontaneous, Reversible Self-Assembly in Dilute solution

249th National Meeting (2015)

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