Dissolution and reduction behavior of C60 films

Electrochemistry of fullerenes has recently attracted much attention. Films of C60, which was prepared on the electrode by solution casting, exhibit unique voltammetric behavior. Thin films of C60, have been studied by cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential electrolysis in acetonitrile solutions containing tetraalkylammonium salts (R= CH3, C2H5, C4H9) as supporting electrolytes. The dissolution and redeposition behavior of C60−n(n=1,2) was investigated by dual electrochemical cells with bipotentialstat. The doping processes were found to be quasi-reversible and dissolution was observed during continuous potential cycling. A fraction of the dissolved C60 anion was redeposited on the second working electrode without applied potential nearby the first working electrode. The cyclic voltammetric behavior of the redeposited C60 films was different from the original films. This behavior may be caused by the different physical state of films which is very thin and porous. The morphology of the redeposited film and original film was investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy.