Utilizing the coffee-ring effect to synthesize tin tetraiodide intercalated fullerene (C60) microcrystals by evaporative-driven self-assembly with enhanced photoluminescence

Abstract

Exodo-metallofullerene microcrystals of SnI₄ intercalated C₆₀ architectures were fabricated by utilizing the “coffee-ring” effect during a simple drop-drying process, which self-assemble into SnI₄–fullerene hybrid structures on a pinned circle brink, due to capillary flow and concentrating both reagents. Nanoscopic and associated EDX imaging analysis revealed the homogeneity of the distribution of SnI₄ within fullerene crystals which exhibit tetrahedral C₆₀(SnI₄)₂ structures, confirmed by a subsequent XRD survey. The primary impetus for this spontaneous self-assembly is van der Waals interaction between iodide and fullerene, allowing the generalization of this protocol in constituting a variety of metal-centered iodo–fullerene composites. Relative to endo-metallofullerene structures, these exodo-metallofullerene complex networks exhibit many compelling characteristics, such as cost-effective and equipment-free preparation, scalable manufacture and considerably high production yield. This method represents an alternative route for constituting functional metal-fullerene hybrids.