Preparation of mesoporous poly(fullerene oxide) framework by thermal [3+2] cycloadditions and its application as a semiconductor photocatalyst

We report the formation of an interconnected, three-dimensional, mesoporous polymeric fullerene oxide framework via thermal [3 + 2] cyclo-additions of monomeric C-60 and fullerene oxides (C60On), formed upon thermal decomposition of C60Br24, causing the eliminations of bromine atoms in an oxygen atmosphere at an elevated temperature of 200 degrees C. The newly formed mesoporous fullerene oxide framework is found to be a low bandgap semiconductor capable of acting as a photocatalyst similar to graphitic C3N4. The sunlight-assisted photocatalytic degradation of the methylene blue dye is demonstrated. To have a better understanding of the mechanism of the [3 + 2] cyclo-additions of monomeric C-60 and fullerene oxides, a theoretical investigation has been carried out and the energetics of the reaction C60O + C-60 -> C120O is calculated.