Self‐Assembled Fullerene Nanostructures: Synthesis and Applications

Abstract

Functionalized fullerene nanostructures are a distinct class of materials that exhibit the combined properties of both fullerene and nanostructures including excellent optoelectronic features, modified band edges, high electron affinity, fast charge transfer capabilities, and tunable structural and textural properties. These fascinating properties allow for their utilization in many applications such as polymer solar cells, photovoltaics, photocatalysis, photodynamic therapy, electrocatalysis, environmental remediation, and drug and gene delivery. Numerous synthesis methods and anchoring groups are employed for functionalized fullerenes with nanostructures by using convergent bottom-up and top-down strategies. The supramolecular self-assembly and functionalization of fullerenes through robust chemistry approaches such as surface oxidation, grafting, polymer coating, doping of metals/nonmetal heteroatoms, noncovalent modification with 2D materials and nanoparticle attachment result in achieving fine control over its surface and bulk properties, including increased solubility, wettability, electron transport, acid-base properties, adsorption, electronic conductivity, and light absorption. This review analyzes the salient developments in the fabrication of nanostructured fullerenes and their functionalized derivatives for many applications including adsorption, catalysis, sensors, energy storage, solar cells, drug delivery, magnetic and superconducting devices. The contents of this review will allow the readers to cherish exciting possibilities and opportunities in field of functionalized nanofullerenes.

Gram-scale synthesis of a covalent nanocage that preserves the redox properties of encapsulated fullerenes

“…Thus, Cage 4+ is unique as a host that solubilizes fullerenes while preserving their reduction potentials and electron transfer capabilities. These features are likely to be useful since the inherent electron-accepting properties of fullerenes are well studied for a variety of applications, 19 and other solubilization strategies ( e.g. , covalent functionalization) also tend to alter the redox properties of fullerenes.…”

Recent Developments in Carbon-Based Nanocomposites for Fuel Cell Applications: A Review

“…It is represented as 0-D carbon-based materials [133]. Fullerene (C 60 ) received considerable attention owing to its high electron transporting properties, good electron-accepting ability, and stable structural arrangements [134][135][136]. Moreover, C 60 -based electrode materials have been used as an efficient electrocatalyst in many fields, such as solar cells [137], batteries [138], biosensors [139], and fuel cells, etc.…”

Enhancing the ORR activity of fullerene-derived carbons by implanting Fe in assembled diamine–C60 spheres

“…15,16 Furthermore, unlike other carbon nanomaterials, fullerenes can construct supramolecular assemblies with tunable architectures and functions. [17][18][19][20][21] Through rational arrangements of heteroatoms in the carbon framework, outstanding ORR performance of fullerene-derived carbons might also be attained. 22,23 Therefore, fullerenes provide a novel platform to manipulate the configuration of heteroatoms in carbon structures and also understand the synergistic effect of catalysis activity.…”