The influence of transition metal compounds on the oxidation of crystalline Fullerene C60

Oxides of several transition metals (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu) were found to have a positive catalytic action and Zn, a negative action on the oxidation of fullerene C-60 by molecular oxygen to CO2 at 400-500 degrees C. Zinc oxide in 1 : 1 mixtures with transition metal oxides had a passivating action on their activity in the oxidation of C-60 (a strong passivating action in mixtures with Mn, Fe, and Cr oxides, a weak passivating action with Ni oxide, and no passivating action over the entire temperature range with Co and Cu oxides). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements showed that the admixtures deposited on C-60 by impregnating it with solutions of metal trifluoroacetates in acetone with subsequent calcining were metal oxides and that C-O bonds were formed at the initial oxidation stages. The Raman spectra were indicative of the formation of C-60 dimers in the oxidation of C-60 with Cr2O3 and Fe2O3 admixtures, which was substantiated by chromato-mass spectrometric analysis of the products of oxidative hydratodisproportionation of C-60, which, along with the usual fragmentation products (2-phenoxyethanol, naphthalene, etc.) contained several saturated hydrocarbons with the normal structure of hydrocarbon chains and the number of carbon atoms from 20 to 28.