Preparation and characterizations of C ₆₀/polystyrene composite particle containing pristine C ₆₀ clusters

Fullerene/polystyrene (C ₆₀/PS) nano particle was prepared by using emulsion polymerization. Styrene and fullerene were emulsified in aqueous media in the presence of poly(N-vinyl pyridine) as an emulsion stabilizer, and polymerization was initiated by water soluble radical initiator, potassium persulfate. The obtained nano particles have an average diameter in the range of 400-500 nm. The fullerene contents in the nano particle can be controlled up to 15 wt % by varying the feed ratio, which was confirmed by themogravimetric analysis (TGA) and elemental analysis (EA). The structure and morphologies of the C ₆₀/PS nano particles were examined by various analytical techniques such as dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), electron diffraction (ED) pattern, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and UV spectroscopy. Unlike conventional C ₆₀/PS particles initiated by organic free radical initiators, in which the fullerene is copolymerized forming a covalent bond with styrene monomer, the prepared C ₆₀/PS nano particles contain pristine fullerene as secondary particles homogeneously distributed in the polystyrene matrix.