Self-Organization of Amphiphilic Fullerenes

The macroscopic morphologies of the self-organized structures derived from the aggregation of [GOjfullerene molecules have received considerable attention due to their tunable physical and chemical properties. This section deals with recent approaches seeking to exploit amphiphilic interactions of functionaUzed [GOjfullerene derivatives to build new nano architectures. 

Goh and coworkers have synthesized PEG subsHtuted [GOjfullerenes, which formed spherical aggregates in polar solvents [82]. Hydrophilic polymer chains can also be attached to the [60]fullerene surface. Nanometer-sized fullerene particles have been constructed successfully [83, 84]. Certainly, the self-assembly of these nano architectures results from the amphiphilic nature of the [60]fullerene derivaHves thus, the hydrophobic moieties play a key role in their microphase separaHon during the aggregaHon process. 

Nakanishi and coworkers have reported the first successful control of the hierarchical organization of [60]fullerenes carrying long aliphatic chains [85-88]. Careful adjustment of the solvent polarity successfully induces the self-assembly of a [60]fullerene derivaHve with long alkyl chains to form hierarchical supramolecular nano objects, such as spherical vesicles, fibers, tapes, discs and conical 

Modification of the globular aromatic surface of [60]fiillerene with various func-tionahties creates an amphiphUic nature on the [60]fuUerene molecule, which allows for the production of Uquid crystalline phases, vesicles, colloidal clusters and bilayer structures. The amphiphihc interactions among the [60]fuUerene molecules are obviously crucial in determining the supramolecular organization formed. 

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