Abstract
Fullerene is scarcely soluble in most solvents, including alkanes. Yet, it has been shown that dissolves in lipid bilayers, whose interior is chemically identical to alkanes. Here, we use molecular simulations to explain why lipid bilayers are better than alkanes at dissolving fullerene clusters. Fullerene aggregation is driven by entropy, but enthalpic contributions determine the difference between alkanes and bilayers. Surprisingly, confinement and chain alignment in the bilayer do not affect fullerene aggregation, while solvent density and the perturbation of solvent-solvent interactions are key factors.
- Received 21 October 2013
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.068102
© 2014 American Physical Society
Synopsis
Biocompatible Carbon Carriers
Published 12 February 2014
Simulations give insight into the use of lipid membranes as solvents for carbon nanoparticles.
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