| dc.description.abstract | The novel compound Buckminsterfullerene (C60) consist of spherical molecules with atoms bonded together in 5- and 6-membered rings, as on a soccer ball. Since its discovery in 1985, research has shown some promising physical, electrical, and optical properties. Potential applications are still under investigation, but some possible uses might be found in superconducting devices, chemical sensors, and optical filters. The long term goal of this research project is to incorporate C60 into thin films which will possess some of the same unique optical properties exhibited by C60. Films can be made from polymer solutions or from polymer latexes. A latex is an aqueous dispersion of polymer particles produced by emulsion polymerization. An emulsion contains one phase dispersed into another, for example oil in water. However, C60 does not polymerize in an emulsion due to its poor solubility in monomer. Therefore, C60 was first derivatized with a monomer in a solution polymerization in order to improve its solubility. A solution polymerization uses a solvent that will dissolve both C60 and the monomer. Polymerization gives a copolymer containing C60 and monomer that has much better solubility properties than C60 itself and can be used in emulsion polymerization to obtain a latex with C60copolymer dispersed in the aqueous phase. This thesis discusses the syntheses of C60 copolymers by solution polymerization. The products were analyzed to determine if polymerization occurred and how incorporation of C60 affected the molecular weights. C60 and methyl methacrylate or styrene were copolymerized using a free radical initiator. Control reactions were done in absence of C60. Results indicate that C60 was copolymerized to form soluble products, and molecular weights of the C60 containing products were lower than corresponding products synthesized without C60. | |
