Electrochemistry of double-wall carbon nanotubes encapsulating C60 and their spectral characterization

Electrochemistry of double-wall carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) encapsulating C60 (C60@DWCNT) have been studied by preparing a C60@DWCNT modified electrode, and three pairs of reversible electro-reduction waves corresponding to electron transfer reactions of C60 inside DWCNTs have been obtained in a mixed solvent of toluene and acetonitrile (4:1, v:v) containing tetrabutylammonium cation as supporting electrolyte, which indicates that DWCNTs act as molecular wires to allow electrical communication between the underlying electrode and the redox-active guest C60. The influencing factors on the electrochemistry of C60@DWCNT modified electrodes have been investigated. The results suggest that the voltammetric behavior of C60@DWCNT is dependent on the nature of the supporting electrolyte and the solvent system. In addition, spectral characterization of the C60@DWCNT modified electrodes before and after electrochemical scanning reveals interaction between C60 and DWCNT and verifies the reduction of C60 encapsulated in DWCNTs. C60 molecules inside DWCNTs retains their redox activity, and can also act as an electron-transfer mediator to electrocatalyze the reduction of halohydrocarbon.