Specifics of light scattering in solutions of fullerene-containing polymers

The molecular mass and hydrodynamic dimensions of molecules of two fullerene-containing polymers which differ in the preparation procedure and the mode of fullerene C-60 binding were determined by means of static and dynamic light scattering and transport techniques (diffusion, sedimentation, gel permeation chromatography). It was established that the molecular masses of polymeric C-60 derivatives determined by means of static light scattering are substantially above those measured by means of the transport techniques. Using as an example a polystyrene specimen containing 6.2 wt % C-60 prepared according to the widespread technique of solvent evaporation from a mutual fullerene and polymer solution, it was shown that the multicomponent nature, the compositional inhomogeneity, and a lack of coincidence in the signs of refractive index increments for structurally different components of fullerene-containing polymers may cause anomalies in the intensity of light scattering by solutions of these compounds.