Incorporation of Fullerene Derivatives into Smectite Clays: A New Family of Organic−Inorganic Nanocomposites

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Abstract
Three fulleropyrrolidine derivatives, characterized by the presence of positive charges, were introduced in the interlayer space of montmorillonite. The composites were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction and differential thermal and thermogravimetric (DTA−TGA) analysis, in conjunction with FTIR, UV−Vis, Raman, and 57Fe-Mössbauer spectroscopies. Organophilic derivatives were intercalated into organically modified clays, while water-soluble fulleropyrrolidines were introduced into the clay galleries through ion exchange. The experiments, complemented by computer simulations, show that not all the clay−clay platelets are intercalated by the fullerene derivatives and that a sizable amount of charge transfer takes place between the host and the guests.