2013MNRAS.434..415G

Recent Spitzer Space Telescope observations of several astrophysical environments such as planetary nebulae, reflection nebulae and R Coronae Borealis stars show the simultaneous presence of mid-infrared features attributed to neutral fullerene molecules (i.e. C60) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). If C60 fullerenes and PAHs coexist in fullerene-rich space environments, then C60 may easily form adducts with a number of different PAH molecules, at least with catacondensed PAHs. Here we present the laboratory infrared spectra ( ∼ 2-25µm) of C60 fullerene and anthracene Diels-Alder mono- and bis-adducts as produced by sonochemical synthesis. We find that C60/anthracene Diels-Alder adducts display spectral features strikingly similar to those from C60 (and C70) fullerenes and other unidentified infrared emission features. Thus, fullerene adducts - if formed under astrophysical conditions and are stable/abundant enough - may contribute to the infrared emission features observed in fullerene-containing circumstellar/interstellar environments.