Simultaneous Quantification of Fullerenes C₆₀ and C₇₀ in Organic Solvents by Excitation–Emission Matrix Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Abstract

Excitation–emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy of unmodified (pristine) fullerenes C60 and C70 in benzene, toluene, and n-hexane at room temperature was used for their quantification by their solvent-dependent EEM bands specific to each fullerene. The intensity and parameters of fluorescence depend on both the fullerene and solvent and provide the conditions for the quantification of both fullerenes in their mixtures without separation. The detection limits for C60 in n-hexane and C70 in benzene under the selected conditions are 7 and 2 nmol/L, respectively. The approach was tested for model and real mixtures of fullerenes C60 and C70.

Keywords

• fullerene C₆₀
• fullerene C₇₀
• fullerene fluorescence
• excitation–emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy
• organic solvents
• fullerene mixtures