One-dimensional C60 arrays in noncovalent benzidine networks

Face-centered cubic packing is typically observed for pristine C60 in the solid state, and one-dimensional alignment structures of pristine C60 in the solid state are extremely rare. This study presents the synthesis of novel one-dimensional aligned C60 in single-cocrystal nanosheets, formed from C60 and N,N,N′,N′-tetraphenylbenzidine (TPB). In C60/TPB, which exhibits ambipolar charge transport characteristics, TPB serves as a molecular receptor to facilitate the formation of noncovalent networks wherein C60 organizes into one-dimensional arrays. The resulting C60/TPB nanosheets give rise to a distinct absorption band in the near-infrared region, suggesting the occurrence of charge-transfer interactions between the C60 and TPB frameworks within the cocrystals. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd