Analytical Sciences


Abstract − Analytical Sciences, 32(4), 463 (2016).

Evidences of Electron Transfer of a Fullerene Anion Radical (C60•|) Prepared under Visible-Light Illumination at a Nitrobenzene/Water Interface
Shigeru WATARIGUCHI,* Masaaki FUJIMORI,** Kosuke ATSUMI,** and Teruo HINOUE**
*Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shinshu University, 3-1-1, Asahi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-8621, Japan
**Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Shinshu University, 3-1-1, Asahi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-8621, Japan
Fullerene (C60) changes to its anion radical (C60•−) in the presence of tetraphenylborate (TPB) under visible-light illumination. Using voltammetry at a liquid/liquid interface, we investigated the electron transfer (ET) between C60•−, previously prepared based on this photochemical reaction, in a nitrobenzene (NB) solution and hexacyanoferrate(III) ([Fe(CN)6]3−) or proton in an aqueous solution. We suggest that positive currents appearing in voltammograms are due to the ion transfer of decomposition products of TPB and ET from C60•− in the NB phase to [Fe(CN)6]3−, or proton in the W phase. 11B NMR revealed that TPB decomposed to some borate anions during the photochemical reaction of fullerene. Furthermore, when the NB solution containing C60•− was mixed with an aqueous solution containing [Fe(CN)6]3− or proton, absorption bands of C60•− in a visible/near infrared absorption spectrum disappeared. This disappearance supports the ET across the NB/W interface. This finding is significant as both an example of ET at a liquid/liquid interface including photochemical reactions and the photochemistry of C60.