Synthesis and characterizations of Au-C60 nanocomposite

Au-C60 nanocomposite thin film (Au nanoparticles embedded in fullerene C60 matrix) is synthesized by thermal co-evaporation method and subsequent thermal annealing from 150 °C to 300 °C. A very small concentration of Au (∼2 at.%) is chosen in order to minimize the deterioration of the physical and chemical properties of fullerene C60 due to the presence of metal. Spherical shaped Au nanoparticles with a diameter of 2.1 ± 0.04 nm are clearly seen in the TEM images of the nanocomposite annealed at 200 °C. A broad surface plasmon resonance peak at ∼581 nm emerges in UV-visible absorption spectrum due to the evolution of Au nanoparticles at a temperature of 250 °C, which is further blue shifted at ∼554 nm with a narrower FWHM at 300 °C. The presence of Au nanoparticles is also confirmed by X-ray diffraction with Au (111) and Au (200) fcc reflections. Thermally induced transformations of fullerene C60 matrix at high temperatures is studied by Raman spectroscopy on pure fullerene C60 films (without metal). The blue shift of LSPR at a temperature of 300 °C is ascribed to the transformation of fullerene C60 matrix into amorphous carbon and is explained in terms of Mie theory. TEM results show the growth of Au nanoparticles in fullerene matrix at higher temperatures due to the enhanced diffusion of Au atoms and Ostwald ripening. •Au-C60 nanocomposite thin film is synthesized by the co-evaporation and thermal annealing.•Thermally induced transformations of fullerene C60 matrix are studied by Raman spectroscopy.•Thermally induced blue shift of SPR is ascribed to the transformation of C60 into amorphous carbon.•The blue shift is explained in terms of Mie theory.•Growth of Au nanoparticles is obtained at higher temperatures due to the Ostwald ripening.