A nanoparticle or agglomerate which contains connected multi-walled spherical fullerenes coated in layers of graphite. In different embodiments, the nanoparticles and agglomerates have different combinations of: a high mass fraction compared to other carbon allotropes present, a low concentration of defects, a low concentration of elemental impurities, a high Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) specific surface area, and/or a high electrical conductivity. Methods are provided to produce the nanoparticles and agglomerates at a high production rate without using catalysts.

The invention provides a fullerene compound; a lubricant that is for a magnetic recording medium and that contains the fullerene compound; and a magnetic recording medium. The fullerene compound is an ionic liquid that is represented by general formula (1) and is formed from a Bronsted acid (H.sub.n1X) and a Bronsted base ([R.sub.2R.sub.3)N—].sub.m1—R.sub.1); wherein one of the Brønsted acid and the Broønsted base contains a group having a fullerene; and the other contains a perfluoroalkyl chain.

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A photoelectric conversion device includes a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, and a photoelectric conversion layer located between the first electrode and the second electrode and including a bulk heterojunction layer containing a donor organic compound and an acceptor organic compound. The donor organic compound includes a first substituent. The acceptor organic compound includes an aromatic portion and a second substituent binding to the aromatic portion and having dipole-dipole interaction with the first substituent.

A nanoparticle or agglomerate which contains connected multi-walled spherical fullerenes coated in layers of graphite. In different embodiments, the nanoparticles and agglomerates have different combinations of: a high mass fraction compared to other carbon allotropes present, a low concentration of defects, a low concentration of elemental impurities, a high Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) specific surface area, and/or a high electrical conductivity. Methods are provided to produce the nanoparticles and agglomerates at a high production rate without using catalysts.

An organic photodetector comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, and a photosensitive organic layer between the electrodes, the photosensitive organic layer comprising a donor polymer and an acceptor compound, characterized in that the acceptor compound has a LUMO level shallower than that of the fullerene derivative PCBM.

The present specification relates to an organic electronic device including a fullerene derivative.

This method for producing a fullerene derivative is a method for producing a fullerene derivative having a partial structure shown by formula (1) by reacting a predetermined halogenated compound and two carbon atoms adjacent to each other for forming a fullerene skeleton in a mixed solvent of an aromatic solvent and an aprotic polar solvent having a CO or SO bond in the presence of at least one metal selected from the group comprising manganese, iron, and zinc;

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(in formula (1), C* are each carbon atoms adjacent to each other for forming a fullerene skeleton, A is a linking group having 1-4 carbon atoms for forming a ring structure with two C*, in which a portion thereof may be a substituted or condensed group).

A method forms a resist underlayer film that has high resistance to dry etching using a gas containing a fluorocarbon. A method for forming a resist underlayer film includes the steps of: applying to a substrate a resist underlayer film-forming composition containing a fullerene derivative in which one to six molecules of malonic acid diester of the following Formula (1): ##STR00001##
wherein two Rs are each independently a C.sub.1-10 alkyl group, are added to one molecule of fullerene, a compound having at least two epoxy groups, and a solvent; and baking the substrate applied with the resist underlayer film-forming composition at least one time at a temperature of 240 C. or higher under an atmosphere of nitrogen, argon, or a mixture thereof.

This method for producing a fullerene derivative is a method for producing a fullerene derivative having a partial structure shown by formula (1) by reacting a predetermined halogenated compound and two carbon atoms adjacent to each other for forming a fullerene skeleton in a mixed solvent of an aromatic solvent and an aprotic polar solvent having a CO or SO bond in the presence of at least one metal selected from the group comprising manganese, iron, and zinc; ##STR00001## (in formula (1), C* are each carbon atoms adjacent to each other for forming a fullerene skeleton, A is a linking group having 1-4 carbon atoms for forming a ring structure with two C*, in which a portion thereof may be a substituted or condensed group).

A nanoparticle composed of buckminsterfullerene bonded to glutamine, gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) and adenosine triphosphate is provided. This nanoparticle helps to regulate the energy metabolism, neural excitability, and signal transduction within the synapse and between the astrocytes and the neuronal networks of the human brain when these become dysfunctional. It is intended as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease, Lewy Body disease and other neuropathological diseases of the glutamine-glutamate-GABA cycle. Utility for remediating comorbid sexual dysfunction is promoted, as well as the antioxidant and protein oligomer disassembly properties. The adenosine triphosphate adduct provides a reversible inorganic phosphate energy storage and supply, the glutamine adduct provides a stable reservoir of this amino acid that is resistant to breakdown by reactive oxygen species, reactive nitrogen species, and astrocytes. The GABA and buckminsterfullerene functional groups are anti-oxidants to treat the most oxidatively stressed regions at neural structures.