Polymer Bulletin, Vol.42, No.2, 191-196, 1999
Preparation and characterization of the fullerenated polymers
The fullerenated PEPC (Poly(epoxy propyl carbazole)) was synthesized in Friedel-Crafts type reactions. Molecular weights of the polymers were determined by gel permeation chromatography. Structures of the polymers were analyzed and characterized by use of H-1 and C-13 NMR, FT-IR, thermal analysis and spectroscopic methods. The C-13 NMR spectrum of fullerenated PEPC exhibits structured peaks in the fullerene region. Compared with pure PEPC, fullerenated PEPC has the same structure in UV region of the absorption spectrum and extends the active range to longer wavelength. The apparent quenching of PEPC fluorescence was observed in the fullerenated polymer and it can be attributed to intramolecular excited state energy transfer. The fullerenated PEPC is soluble in common organic solvents such as THF and chloroform. The process can be generalized to other polymers having phenyl groups to produce a series of fullerenated polymers.