LIQUIDI IONICI E FULLERENI: PIATTAFORME PER NUOVI MATERIALI

The synthesis of innovative catalysts based on different carbon nanoforms (CNFs), namely fullerene C60 and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and their application in Suzuki and Heck C-C coupling reactions, constitutes the common thread of the first part (Chapter 1 and 2) of this thesis. C60 and CNTs were functionalized with ionic liquids (ILs) and poly-amidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers, respectively, and used as supports for palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs). Moreover, additional supported catalytic systems based on one of the synthesized C60-IL hybrids were prepared and successfully employed in the title coupling reactions. The final part (Chapter 3) of the thesis deals on the microwave-mediated synthesis optimization of some fullerene-based acceptors species for organic photovoltaics (OPV). In such a way, the main C60- and C70-based acceptor derivatives for organic solar cells, such as PCBM, DPM6, BHN and ICBA, were obtained in higher yields and shorter reaction times with respect to the data reported in literature. These findings represent a step forward toward the wide production of cheaper organic solar cells as a consequence of the cost abatement of the acceptors given by higher yields, lower waste production, and reduced reaction time which means a strong energy saving.