Pressure-induced transformation of ferrocene-doped C₆₀ nanosheets fabricated by liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation method

Abstract

Ferrocene-doped C₆₀ nanosheets consisting of alternating C₆₀ and ferrocene layers were grown by liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation method, and their pressure-induced transformation at room temperature was investigated by means of Raman spectroscopy. The charge transfer and polymerization of C₆₀ occur with increasing pressure even at room temperature, while the transition pressures are low compared with those of the same kind of sample reported previously. The discrepancy in the transition pressures can be attributed to the crystal quality. In addition, it should be noted that the structure of the sample recovered after decompression is found to be amorphous C₆₀, although the Raman spectrum almost completely returns to the starting one of isolated C₆₀. Such depolymerization of C₆₀ would be due to the effect of ferrocene layers which stabilize the initial isolated C₆₀ at ambient temperature and pressure.