Synthesis and explosive decomposition of polynitro[60]fullerene Original Research Article

Prolonged treatment of C60 in benzene with very high concentrations of N2O4 leads to a new polynitro[60]fullerene whose composition was determined as C60(NO2)14 by thermogravimetric analysis. The compound is unstable and deflagrates above 170 °C when heated under nitrogen or in air with the release of a considerable amount of heat as observed by the differential thermal analysis and as measured by differential scanning calorimetry. The decomposition steps of C60(NO2)14 were followed by the thermogravimetric analysis coupled with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analytical technique. At the deflagration point C60(NO2)14 releases a mixture of nitrogen oxides: NO2 and NO with minor amounts of N2O. The deflagration leaves a residue of oxidized carbon which by heating releases CO2 and CO and at 700 °C is reduced to a carbonaceous matter free from residual oxygenated groups showing also the presence of small amounts (⩽10%) of C60 fullerene.