Qualitative test for supramolecular complexation of C60 using a mesoporous silica

Abstract

A new form of mesoporous silica with a surface area of 600 m ² g ^{- 1} , mean pore radius of 5.4 nm and total pore volume of 1.9 ml g ^{- 1} uptakes C ₆₀ in toluene; on removal of toluene or the addition of fullerene complexing agents the C ₆₀ undergoes aggregation within the silica, identified by an inter-fullerene resonant transition at ca. 450 nm.