Nonclassical Chlorinated C60 Fullerenes and Their Use in Electrochemical Manufacturing of Gas-Tight Polymerized Coatings

Abstract We present a study of the electronic properties and electrochemical behavior of the #1809 C 60 Cl 8 and #1794 C 60 Сl 20 non-IPR fullerene chlorides by means of cyclic voltammetry, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and quantum-chemical modelling. We found the position of the LUMO level to be determined not just by the mere number of chlorine addends but rather by the structure of the carbon cage and the particular addition pattern. Irreversible reduction of the #1809 C 60 Cl 8 and #1794 C 60 Сl 20 non-IPR fullerene chlorides with partial loss of chlorine and polymerization has suggested an approach toward electrochemical manufacturing of gas-tight carbonaceous coatings. The coatings thus obtained show gas transport properties consistent with the Knudsen diffusion regime with linear dependence of permeability on the inverse square root of the molecular mass. Our new approach for manufacturing of the carbonaceous polymerized fullerene coatings will be of use in the design of conducting coatings and electrocatalytic systems.