Hybrid materials with an increased resistance to hard X-rays using fullerenes as radical sponges

Abstract

The protection of organic and hybrid organic-inorganic materials from X-ray damage is a fundamental technological issue for broadening the range of applications of these materials. In the present article it is shown that doping hybrid films with fullerenes C(60) gives a significant reduction of damage upon exposure to hard X-rays generated by a synchrotron source. At low X-ray dose the fullerene molecules act as `radical scavengers', considerably reducing the degradation of organic species triggered by radical formation. At higher doses the gradual hydroxylation of the fullerenes converts C(60) into fullerol and a bleaching of the radical sinking properties is observed.

Carbon-based antiviral nanomaterials: graphene, C-dots, and fullerenes. A perspective

“…Another important property to consider in developing an antiviral platform based on UV irradiation of fullerenes is their radical sinking effect. 101 This reduces the efficiency of binary systems formed by titania, which upon UV irradiation generates free radicals, and fullerenes, which act as radical sinks.…”

Sol-Gel Thin Film Processing for Integrated Waveguide Sensors

“…Nevertheless, experiments performed under cooling conditions support the idea of an increasing number of radicals as the main reason behind the condensation process. The importance of radicals has also been proven by doping silica films with fullerenes as radical scavengers, demonstrating that these organic molecules retarded the layer hardening process (Pinna et al, 2012). Films doped with the highest content of fullerenes studied in this work exhibit an amount of residual silanols 65% higher than undoped films exposed to the same dose, corresponding to a less condensed structure.…”

Fulleropyrrolidine-functionalized ceria nanoparticles as a tethered dual nanosystem with improved antioxidant properties

“…Due to this property, fullerenes have been dened as radical sponges. 21,22 This property envisages that fullerene and its derivatives (such as fulleropyrrolidine) could be successfully applied to prevent sensitive materials from UV-degradation and biological tissues from ROS overproduction. 23,24 In previous years, the antiviral activity of fullerenes has been extensively investigated and directly correlated with the unique anti-oxidant properties of its molecular structure.…”