Fullerene

The subproject Fullerenes at the TU Ilmenau aims at the synthesis and specific adaptation of highly stable carbon nanostructure layers of fullerenes to improve the biological compatibility and longevity of special ceramic dental implants. The problem is the synthesis and adaptation of suitable fullerene derivatives, which are both suitable to be incorporated into ceramic layers and to develop a long-term medical effect without being discharged from the layer in measurable concentrations. In the subproject presented here, a novel approach is pursued to implement an ideal nanomorphology involving fullerene derivatives, whereby interface and biochemistry are synergistically combined. Amongst other things, novel fullerenes with fluorescent dyes will be investigated to investigate the interaction of fullerenes in the surface layer of the ceramic with the biological environment in the oral cavity. The aim is to synthesize novel fullerene derivatives that can be stably anchored in the ceramic layers and yet are still biologically active. The fullerenes subproject contains original experimental work, which is primarily intended to gain new insights in the field of fullerene chemistry. The scientific demands are mainly in the field of chemical synthesis and characterization of fullerene derivatives and coatings with different functional groups, which are tailor-made for the goals to be fulfilled in the overall project. New synthesis routes to stable fullerene derivatives and new functional properties of the corresponding derivatives are to be developed.