Effects of alcohols on shape-tuning and luminescence-enhancing of C70 nanocrystals

C70 nanotubes, nanorods and nanoparticles were produced by introducing a series of alcohols as precipitant into a C70/m-xylene solution. The effects of alcohols with different carbon chain lengths on the shape control of C70 nanocrystals were investigated. Alcohols with more than two carbon atoms in the longest chain linked to the hydroxyl groups induced the formation of C70 nanotube/rods. In contrast, alcohols containing two or fewer carbon atoms resulted in C70 nanoparticles. Structural analysis indicated that alcohol molecules exist in the C70 nanocrystals, forming solvated structures. The freshly formed C70 nanotubes and nanoparticles have orthorhombic and hexagonal solvated structures, respectively. Room temperature photoluminescence was further carried out on the solvated C70 nanocrystals to investigate their optical properties. We found that the luminescence intensities of C70 nanocrystals were significantly enhanced by the introduction of alcohols.