Optical band gap and aggregation behavior of C60 fullerene in xylene/ethanol

Editorial Board PCSS Journal; U.K. Makhmanov; A.X. Shukurov; K.N. Musurmonov

doi:10.15330/pcss.27.3.566-572

Authors

U.K. Makhmanov Institute of Ion-Plasma and Laser Technologies, Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences, Tashkent, Uzbekistan; National University of Uzbekistan named after Mirzo Ulugbek, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
A.X. Shukurov Institute of Ion-Plasma and Laser Technologies, Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
K.N. Musurmonov Institute of Ion-Plasma and Laser Technologies, Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15330/pcss.27.3.566-572

Keywords:

C60 fullerene, binary solvent system, optical band gap, Tauc Plot, Raman spectroscopy

Abstract

In this work, the optical transition characteristics, aggregation state, and resulting film morphology of C₆₀ fullerene were investigated in a fixed xylene/ethanol binary medium with a volume ratio of 70:30 at a C₆₀ concentration of 0.1 mg/mL. The system was characterized using UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, Tauc-type analysis, nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), Raman spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The absorption spectrum shows pronounced ultraviolet and blue-region absorption associated predominantly with electronic transitions of C₆₀. A Tauc-type representation gives characteristic intercept energies near 1.90, 2.13, and 2.88 eV; these values are treated as apparent optical transition energies rather than as independently established band gaps. NTA measurements reveal a broad number-weighted particle-size distribution, with the main particle population located approximately in the 100–200 nm range and an extended low-density tail toward larger sizes. The cumulative size parameters were D₁₀ = 117.8 ± 15.1 nm, D₅₀ = 155.2 ± 9.8 nm, and D₉₀ = 350.7 ± 78.9 nm. Examination of the Raman spectrum identifies characteristic C₆₀ vibrational features while taking into account possible contributions from the xylene/ethanol medium. AFM analysis reveals heterogeneous aggregate-rich film morphology formed after solvent evaporation. The results provide a consistent characterization of C₆₀ under the investigated xylene/ethanol (70:30) condition and establish a basis for further systematic studies of solvent-composition effects.

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