Raman Laser Polymerization of C60 Nanowhiskers

Abstract

Photopolymerization of C60 nanowhiskers (C60NWs) was investigated by using a Raman spectrometer in air at room temperature, since the polymerized C60NWs are expected to exhibit a high mechanical strength and a thermal stability. Short C60NWs with a mean length of 4.4 μm were synthesized by LLIP method (liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation method). The Ag(2) peak of C60NWs shifted to the lower wavenumbers with increasing the laser beam energy dose, and an energy dose more than about 1520 J/mm2 was found necessary to obtain the photopolymerized C60NWs. However, excessive energy doses at high-power densities increased the sample temperature and lead to the thermal decomposition of polymerized C60 molecules.