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 C60 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 C60 into fullerol and a bleaching of the radical sinking properties is observed. © 2012 International Union of Crystallography.