Infrared Spectroscopic Studies of C60 and C70 Nanoparticle Interactions with δ-Valerolactam

Abstract

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to investigate the interactions between C₆₀
and C₇₀ nanoparticles and δ-valerolactam (δ-lactam or D-lactam, the six-member heterocyclic lactam) in a toluene solvent environment. Changes in the carbonyl absorption in the lactam ring (both shape and position) were used to identify interactions between the δ-valerolactam and these nanoparticles. In a previous study, shifts in the carbonyl absorption were observed for 2-pyrrolidone (γ-lactam, the five-member heterocyclic lactam) treated with C₆₀, but only very small broadenings of the carbonyl absorption were observed when 2- pyrrolidone was treated with C₇₀. In this study, significant changes in the carbonyl absorption were observed when d-valerolactam was treated with both C₆₀ and C₇₀ in a toluene solvent environment.