Polymer composites fullerene-based

It is the purpose of this chapter to introduce photoinduced charge transfer phenomena in bulk heterojunction composites, i.e., blends of conjugated polymers and fullerenes. Phenomena found in other organic solar cells such as pristine fullerene cells [11,12], dye sensitised liquid electrolyte [13] or solid state polymer electrolyte cells [14], pure dye cells [15,16] or small molecule cells [17], mostly based on heterojunctions between phthalocyanines and perylenes [18] or other bilayer systems will not be discussed here, but in the corresponding chapters of this book. 

Beside their well-known extra-high mechanical properties, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) offer either metallic or semiconductor characteristics based on the chiral structure of fullerene. They possess superior thermal and electrical properties so SWNTs are regarded as the most promising reinforcement material for the next generation of high performance structural and multifunctional composites, and evoke great interest in polymer based composites research. The SWNTs/polymer composites are theoretically predicted to have both exceptional mechanical and functional properties, which carbon fibers cannot offer [105]. 

Fig. 3 Most studied nanomaterials in past two decades conductive polymer composites based on carbon nanomaterials (Graphene, SWCNT, and Fullerene from L-R Figs, taken from Refs. [85-87])...

Kozlov, V.V., Korolev, Yu.M., Karpacheva G.P. (1999) IR-radiation induced structural transformations in the composite based on polyacrylonitrile and fullerene C6o, Polymer Science, A 41, 553-557. 

In the nanotechnology field, carbon-based materials and associated composites have received special attention both for fundamental and applicative research. In the first kind, carbon compounds may be included, often taking the form of a hollow spheres, ellipsoids, or mbes. Spherical and ellipsoidal carbon nanomaterials are referred to as fullerenes, while cylindrical ones are called nanombes and nanofibers. In the second class, one includes composite materials that combine carbon nanoparticles with other nanoparticles, or nanoparticles with large bulk-type materials. The unique properties of these various types of nanomaterials provide novel electrical, catalytic, magnetic, mechanical, thermal, and other features that are desirable for applications in commercial, medical, military, and enviromnental sectors. This is the case for conducting polymers (CPs) and carbon nanombes (CNTs) [1-5]. 

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