Photophysics of Fullerenes: C60 and C70

Abstract

The successful preparation of C60 and C70 in large quantities [1–3] has resulted in surge of interest in their basic properties [4–11], A number of excited triplet state properties of C60 and C70 have been measured by different groups [8–11]. In particular, their triplet lifetimes, phosphorescence and EPR spectra were well established by Wasielewski et al. [9]. Recently, we measured the correct C60 and C70 triplet and singlet excited state absorption spectra, their molar absorption coefficients and their lifetimes in toluene [10,11]. These results will be summarized here together with Raman spectra of the ground state C60 and C70. Raman spectra of C60 and C70 were first reported by Bethune et al [4]. Although our results are in good agreement with their work, we report here additional new features of interest.