Clustering dynamics of fullerenes in C60/C70-chemically modified poly(N-vinylcarbazole)

The clustering dynamics of fullerenes in C60/C70-chemically modified poly(N-vinylcarbazole) was studied by laser desorption TOF mass spectrometry. From the evolution of the mass spectra in the negative and positive-ion channels with increasing laser shots the fragmentation and aggregation (growth and coalescence) dynamics as well as the key role played by PVK and its dissociation products were discussed. The results indicate that the bonds between the PVK chain and fullerene cages are easily broken under laser interaction and the fullerene cages ruptured from the chain are in active excited states favorable to the clustering of the cages.