Are pristine and functionalized fullerenes genuine constituents of airborne aerosols?

Abstract

Abstract We investigated if pristine and functionalized fullerenes could be actual constituents of fine atmospheric aerosols. Comprehensive profiles of fullerenes from 1 µL extracts were made through matrix laser desorption ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-MS) within a few minutes. Using 1 µL of α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid matrix solution spotted over the dried extracts, the ion with m/z 720, corresponding to [C60]-•, was identified as fullerene. The ions with the m/z corresponding to C70, C76, C78, C84, C100, C118, C128, and C130 were also attributed to other fullerene species detected within the samples. The fullerene derivative diethyl methano[60]fullerene dicarboxylate was observed as the ion m/z 878. Since ions of fragmented fullerene molecules were not detected even at high laser energies, we considered the fullerenes’ occurring as original constituents of real atmospheric particle matrices instead of being formed as artifacts of the laser action on samples. Therefore, this protocol would be helpful in the understanding of the distribution of either pristine or functionalized fullerenes in the environment and their participation in atmospheric chemistry under typical conditions, as well as to be applied in vitro and in vivo (eco)toxicity studies.