Date of Award
8-19-2013
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Chemistry
First Advisor
Brian Berry
Abstract
The discovery of fullerenes was a significant scientific event for which the Nobel Prize was awarded in 1996. Since that time, research involving fullerene C60 has gained significant momentum due to the unique chemical, optical, and electronic properties of the molecule. The attachment of a polymer chain to C60 results in increased solubility and decreased aggregation, characteristics which can then be exploited for use in organic photovoltaic devices (OPVs), catalysts, fuel cells, and photonics. This research focuses on the synthesis of polymer-tethered fullerenes (PTFs) by reaction with amine-terminated polystyrene. Solvent polarity, light exposure, and the presence of molecular oxygen were investigated to determine the effect of each on the rate of product formation, mass yields, reaction mechanism, and PTF morphologies.
Recommended Citation
Alexander, Amy, "Synthesis of Fullerene-Amine Adducts Under Various Reaction Conditions" (2013). Theses and Dissertations. 421.
https://research.ualr.edu/etd/421
