Silica coated fullerenols: seeded growth of silica spheres under acidic conditions

Abstract

Liquid phase deposition of silica in the presence of fullerenol, C₆₀(OH)_n, results in the formation of uniform silica spheres, whereas the use of C₆₀ gives large non-uniform agglomerates as a result of homogeneous nucleation. Raman and UV spectroscopy indicate the C₆₀ is retained as the core of the silica spheres.