The morphology of 2D films of fullerene C60 on interfaces has been studied by Brewster angle microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Fullerene C60 tends to aggregate, forming supramolecular structures with a surface area per C60 molecule from 21.6 to 2900 Å2. As the area per C60 molecule decreases, monomolecular clusters gradually transform into multiplayer structures. The introduction of an electrolyte into the system prevents the formation of fullerene globules and favors the formation of more homogeneous films.

The effect of ammonium sulfate on the parameters of surface pressure isotherms (surface pressure and area per fullerene molecule) of 2D films of fullerene C60 on the water/air interface has been studied by the Langmuir method. The possibility of regulation of the structure of 2D fullerene films has been shown. The maximal A 0 value is achieved at an ammonium sulfate concentration of 1 × 10−4 mol/L. Brewster angle microscopy shows that the presence of the electrolyte ensures the formation of a monomolecular 2D film with a lower content of defects.

A comparative study of the oxidative destruction of the monomer face-centered cubic (FCC) lattice and various polymer [dimeric ( D ), orthorhombic ( O ), tetragonal ( T ), and rhombohedral ( R )] phases of C 60 in an atmosphere of oxygen has been performed in the temperature range of 100–500°C with the use of a flow microunit connected to a gas chromatograph. From direct measurements of the content of CO 2 in the gaseous products of destruction, the temperature dependences of oxidation rates are measured for the materials under study. It has been established that, with respect to stability against oxidative destruction, different forms of C 60 may be arranged as follows: the monomer FCC phase of C 60 > D > O > T > R . The reasons behind this tendency are discussed.

Oxides of several transition metals (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu) were found to have a positive catalytic action and Zn, a negative action on the oxidation of fullerene C-60 by molecular oxygen to CO2 at 400-500 degrees C. Zinc oxide in 1 : 1 mixtures with transition metal oxides had a passivating action on their activity in the oxidation of C-60 (a strong passivating action in mixtures with Mn, Fe, and Cr oxides, a weak passivating action with Ni oxide, and no passivating action over the entire temperature range with Co and Cu oxides). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements showed that the admixtures deposited on C-60 by impregnating it with solutions of metal trifluoroacetates in acetone with subsequent calcining were metal oxides and that C-O bonds were formed at the initial oxidation stages. The Raman spectra were indicative of the formation of C-60 dimers in the oxidation of C-60 with Cr2O3 and Fe2O3 admixtures, which was substantiated by chromato-mass spectrometric analysis of the products of oxidative hydratodisproportionation of C-60, which, along with the usual fragmentation products (2-phenoxyethanol, naphthalene, etc.) contained several saturated hydrocarbons with the normal structure of hydrocarbon chains and the number of carbon atoms from 20 to 28.

It was found that, when treated at 7 GPa and 900degreesC for 15 min, crystalline fullerene C-60 modified with oxygen or hydrogen at 100degreesC and atmospheric pressure undergoes hydration-disproportionation with the formation Of C-6-C-16 carboxylic acids and hydrocarbons C-21-C-28 and hydrogenation-disproportionation with the formation of C-21-C-28 hydrocarbons. The alkyl groups of the carboxylic acids and hydrocarbons have normal structure. These processes are accompanied by the disappearance of the crystalline phase and by the formation of a graphite phase; the formation of a diamond phase was observed only for C-60 modified with hydrogen. A process of diamond formation via a hydrogenation-disproportionation of C60Hx, into diamond-hydrocarbons CdiamHy and saturated hydrocarbons CnH2n+2 was revealed.