Fullerenes for Photovoltaics and Biotechnology

Fullerenes are allotropes of carbon that are closed shells and have a similar structure to footballs / soccer balls. The discovery of buckminsterfullerene, also known as C₆₀ fullerene, sparked the creation of a series of related molecules. Fullerenes have unique properties that make them suitable for use in electronics. Fullerene acceptors, also known as fullerene-based acceptors or acceptor molecules, are a type of electron acceptor material commonly used in conjunction with organic donor materials.

Features of Fullerenes

Electron acceptance: Fullerenes have excellent electron accepting properties. They readily accept electrons from donor materials. This helps to facilitate efficient charge separation in organic solar cells.
Solubility: Many fullerene acceptors are soluble in common organic solvents, making them compatible with solution processing techniques, including spin coating.
High electron mobility: This allows for efficient electron transport within the acceptor material, which is crucial for achieving high device performance.

Explore our fullerenes, soluble fullerene derivatives, and fullerene replacements for electron acceptors in OPV devices and n-type interfaces in perovskite solar cells. Fullerene derivatives, based on the classic fullerenes C₆₀ and C₇₀, are functionalized with chemical groups including phenyls and esters. This makes derivatives like PCBM easier to process within your device.

Related categories: non-fullerene acceptors

PCBM

CAS 160848-22-6

From £250

bis-PCBM (PC60BM Bisadduct)

CAS 1048679-01-1

From £380

PC70BM (C70-PCBM), PC71BM

CAS 609771-63-3

From £370

ICBA (Indene-C60 Bisadduct)

CAS 1207461-57-1

Price £660

C70 Fullerene

CAS 115383-22-7

From £260

C60 Fullerene

CAS 99685-96-8

From £170

Fullerenol C60

From £210

Fullerene C60 Malonic Acid

From £240

[60]PCBH

CAS 850807-50-0

Price £250

[60]IPB

CAS 1705592-13-7 / 1883713-20-9

Price £250

Resources and Support

What are Fullerenes?

Fullerenes are an allotrope of carbon and are known for their hollow, cage-like structures. They are composed entirely of carbon atoms that form closed, convex polyhedra. The atoms are bonded together to form hexagonal and pentagonal rings, like the pattern found on a soccer ball or geodesic dome.

Properties of Fullerene

Fullerene C6o exhibits unique structural, chemical, electronic, and thermal properties. This is due to its highly symmetrical icosahedral structure that contains a mixture of single and double bonds. All fullerenes have partial electron sharing across the molecule and a high affinity for electrons.

How are Fullerenes Made?

Today, fullerenes are made using three main methods; Huffman-Krätschmer, combustion and microwave. Chemical synthesis techniques, such as laser irradiation and pyrolysis, offer exciting possibilities for producing fullerene derivatives that were previously not accessible.

Uses of Fullerene and its Derivatives

Fullerene and its derivatives are used in chemical, electronic, medicinal, and biological sciences due to their unique physical and chemical properties. Fullerene, also known as C60 or buckminsterfullerene, is a type of carbon allotrope that has properties that can be tuned depending on what it will be used for.

Water-Soluble Fullerenes: Preparation and Applications

Water-soluble fullerenes, such as fullerenol C60, are either chemically modified, polymer grafted, or encapsulated in a hydrophillic agent. Fullerenes can then disperse or solubilize in aqueous media.

Polymer-Fullerene Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells

Polymer-fullerene bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells are based on blends of semiconducting polymers and fullerene derivatives, such as PCBM. It is described as a bulk heterojunction as it involves a blend of two materials with differing energy band gaps, forming a dispersed, interpenetrating network.