Preparation of up-conversion C ₆₀ microtube arrays by liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation method

Vertically aligned C ₆₀ microtube arrays were synthesized at ambient pressure and temperature by using the modified liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation (LLIP) method in the system of C ₆₀/toluene and isopropyl alcohol (IPA). The C ₆₀ microtube arrays were structurally characterized by SEM, XRD, Raman scattering and photoluminescence(PL) measurements. The results reveal that the C ₆₀ microtube arrays are formed by polymerization of C ₆₀ molecules with an fee crystal structure, hexagonal cross-section of 5 to 10 μm and the wall thickness of 1 to 3 μm. When excited at 1 064 nm near infrared region, the up-conversion luminescence was seen in the infrared region due to different energy levels of multiwalled carbon tubes.