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Fullerene-based low-dimensional (LD) heterostructures have emerged as excellent energy conversion materials. We constructed van der Waals 1T-MoS2/C60 0D-2D heterostructures via a one-pot synthetic approach for catalytic hydrogen generation. The interfacial 1T-MoS2-C60 and C60-C60 interactions as well as their electrocatalytic properties were finely controlled by varying the weight percentages of the fullerenes. 1T-MoS2 platforms provided a novel template for the formation of C60 nanosheets (NSs) within a very narrow fullerene concentration range. The heterostructure domains of 1T-MoS2 and C60 NSs exhibited excellent hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performances, with one of the lowest onset potentials and ΔGH* values for LD non-precious nanomaterials reported to date.

The synthesis, characterization, and incorporation of phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM)-like derivatives as electron transporting materials (ETMs) in inverted perovskite solar cells (PS...

Platinum (Pt)-based-nanomaterials are currently the most successful catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in electrochemical energy conversion devices such as fuel cells and metal-air batteries. Nonetheless, Pt catalysts have serious drawbacks, including low abundance in nature, sluggish kinetics, and very high costs, which limit their practical applications. Herein, we report the first rationally designed nonprecious Co-Cu bimetallic metal-organic framework (MOF) using a low-temperature hydrothermal method that outperforms the electrocatalytic activity of Pt/C for ORR in alkaline environments. The MOF catalyst surpassed the ORR performance of Pt/C, exhibiting an onset potential of 1.06 V vs RHE, a half-wave potential of 0.95 V vs RHE, and a higher electrochemical stability (ΔE1/2 = 30 mV) after 1000 ORR cycles in 0.1 M NaOH. Additionally, it outperformed Pt/C in terms of power density and cyclability in zinc-air batteries. This outstanding behavior was attributed to the unique electronic synergy of the Co-Cu bimetallic centers in the MOF network, which was revealed by XPS and PDOS.

An emerging class of heterostructures with unprecedented (photo)electrocatalytic behavior, involving the combination of fullerenes and low-dimensional (LD) nanohybrids, is currently expanding the field of energy materials. The unique physical and chemical properties of fullerenes have offered new opportunities to tailor both the electronic structures and the catalytic activities of the nanohybrid structures. Here, we comprehensively review the synthetic approaches to prepare fullerene-based hybrids with LD (0D, 1D, and 2D) materials in addition to their resulting structural and catalytic properties. Recent advances in the design of fullerene-based LD nanomaterials for (photo)electrocatalytic applications are emphasized. The fundamental relationship between the electronic structures and the catalytic functions of the heterostructures, including the role of the fullerenes, is addressed to provide an in-depth understanding of these emerging materials at the molecular level.

Porous carbon encapsulated non-precious metal nanocatalysts have recently opened the ways towards the development of high-performance water remediation and energy conversion technologies. Herein, we report a facile, scalable and green synthetic methodology to fabricate porous carbon encapsulated transition metal nanocatalysts (M@TP: M = Cu, Ni, Fe and Co) using commercial tissue paper. The morphology, crystalline structure, chemical composition and textural properties of the M@TP nanocatalysts were thoroughly characterized. The catalytic activity of the M@TP nanocatalysts was investigated for the degradation of Congo red (CR) via peroxymonosulfate activation. Co@TP-6 was found to be the most active catalyst allowing 97.68% degradation in 30 min with a higher rate constant of 0.109 min−1. The nanocatalysts also displayed a carbon shell thickness-dependent electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity, most likely due to the shielding effect of the carbon layers over the electron transfer (ET) processes at the metal core/carbon interfaces. Remarkably, the Ni@TP-6 electrocatalyst, with the smaller carbon shell thickness, showed the best electrocatalytic performance. They delivered an ultralow onset potential of −30 mV vs RHE, an overpotential of 105 mV at a current density of 10 mA·cm−2 and an excellent electrochemical stability to keep the 92% of the initial current applied after 25000 s, which is comparable with the HER activity of the state-of-the-art Ni-based catalysts.

The synthesis of new C60 fullerene derivatives functionalized with thiophene moieties as well as with electron donating or electron withdrawing groups, bromine (Br) or cyano (CN), respectively, using Bingel reactions is reported. The synthesized derivatives were used as the electron transporting materials (ETMs) in inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Compared to devices fabricated with [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM), the new derivatives showed similar electrochemical properties and electron mobilities. However, PSCs based on the new derivatives synthesized in this work exhibited higher power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) than PC61BM based devices, which were ascribed to their better passivation ability, likely due to specific interactions between the fullerene addend and the perovskite layer surface. Devices based on the fullerene bearing the CN group exhibited an additionally improved efficiency due to the increased dielectric constant (er) of this derivative. These results show that the new functionalized fullerene derivatives can act as efficient ETMs in inverted PSCs.

Fullerene derivatives are known for their excellent electron transport properties, which can effectively serve as electron transport layers (ETLs) deposited from solution at low temperatures in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, it remains unclear how functional groups attached to the fullerene derivatives influence device performances. Herein, the performance of an ETL based on [6,6]-phenyl-C61 butyric acid 2-ethylhexyl ester (PC61BEH) was investigated. It was demonstrated that the branched alkyl chain of the fullerene derivative can highly influence the solubility, film morphology, passivation ability, ETL-perovskite contact, and electron extraction ability of the fullerene derivative. Overall device performance and stability are dependent on these characteristics. The results suggest that further design and improvement of fullerene-based PSCs performance may be possible through optimization of the addend structure and functionality.

In this review, we summarize recent advances that have resulted in fullerene-based high-efficiency perovskite solar cells (PSCs) by new processing methods of the perovskite films, by adding fullerenes as interfacial selective electron extraction layers and improving device stability or by incorporating fullerene derivatives to eliminate hysteretic behavior of both regular and inverted PSC structures. Finally, we outline some perspectives for further advancing PSCs for large-scale and commercial applications.

Herein, magnetic C@Fe nanocatalyst was prepared via the direct carbonization of Fe-BDC (benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid) metal organic framework and utilized for the catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) and methyl orange (MO). The nanocatalyst was characterized using VSM, TEM, SEM, EDS, FTIR, XRD and TGA instruments. The nanocatalyst showed excellent catalytic performance and good reusability. The calculated apparent rate constant was 1.34 min−1 and 0.92 min−1 for the 4-NP and MO reduction, which is higher than that of numerous previously reported nanocatalysts. Consequently, magnetically recoverable C@Fe nanocatalyst could be considered as a promising nanocatalyst due to their easy preparation and excellent activity.

Herein we report a simple, facile and green technique for the preparation of magnetic cobalt nanoparticles (NPs) embedded on porous carbon (C@Co) nanocatalyst using MOFs template and explored for the catalytic reduction of Methyl orange (MO) and 4-Nitrophenol (4-NP). The morphology, structure and composition of the nanocatalyst were characterized by using Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) techniques. XRD analysis confirmed the presence of metallic Co NPs as well as their high crystalline structure. TEM analysis revealed that all the Co NPs are wrapped and protected by the porous carbon matrix. Catalytic studies revealed that the prepared magnetic C@Co nanocatalyst could catalyze the reduction of MO and 4-NP in 2 min effectively. Furthermore, the nanocatalyst showed an outstanding reusability and recyclability characteristics that remained unchanged even after several cycles. Consequently, this research offers a highly active, recyclable and magnetically isolable nanocatalyst, which can be utilized for many catalytic industrial processes. In this regard, the magnetic C@Co nanocatalyst could be a potential candidate for the wastewater treatment.