Raman characterization of C60 salts electroformed in aqueous media

Electrochemical intercalation of C60 films from aqueous LiOH, KOH, NaOH, RbOH and CsOH solutions was studied by electrochemical methods and Raman spectroscopy. The intercalation of these alkali metals cations gives rise to reduction peaks at different applied potentials depending on the chemical nature of the cation used. Reduction of the C60 films was observed to rather different extents depending on the composition of the working solution. Electrochemical and Raman experiments show that K+ and Cs+ ions form the most stables and active salts, while Li+, Na+ and Rb+ are not significantly intercalated. Furthermore, Raman characterization of the K+ and Cs+ doped films leads to the identification of the its main components, namely the K2C60 and CsC60 species.