Photophysical and Photochemical Properties of the Fullerenes

Abstract
This article primarily reviews the recent work of this laboratory on the photophysical and photochemical properties of the fullerenes, C60 and C70, in solution. Properties of the excited singlet and triplet states of them have been characterised by static and transient fluorescence spectroscopy. Charge and/or proton transfer dynamics in ground and excited singlet state of the fullerenes with the amines have been investigated in detail. Strong evidence has been obtained for weak interaction between the fullerenes and the aromatic solvents, like benzene, toluene etc. A novel method has been described to solubilise C60 in aqueous solution via formation of inclusion complex with γ-cylodextrin.