Fullerene C60 and amphiphilic C60 succinic acid derivative Langmuir-Blodgett films as modifiers of the wetting properties of hydrophobic (PET) and hydrophilic (glass) substrates

Fullerene C60 and a succinic acid derivative have been deposited on glass slides and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sheets by the Langmuir-Blodgett method starting from Langmuir layers at the water/air interface at different compression states. This method leads to important modifications of the wetting properties of both solid surfaces, which can be discussed in terms of degree and quality of coverage of the solid substrates. Hence, the possibility of obtaining actual monomolecular layers of fullerenes either on water or on solid substrates via chemical modifications by hydrophobic substituents on C60 are discussed. The structures of these films are discussed by measuring their absorption at 450 nm and their wetting properties.