Self-Assembled Fullerene-Based Materials for Energy-Related Applications

Fullerene-based materials have become ideal candidates for energy-related applications due to their unique electronic properties, chemical modifiability, and thermal stability. This review focuses on self-assembly strategies of fullerenes and their derivatives both in solution and bulk states, emphasizing the correlation between microstructure and macroscopic properties. In solution, fullerene molecules and their derivatives self-assemble into nanostructures under different dimensions such as nanowires, nanosheets, and vesicles driven by nonchemical bonding. These structures exhibit intriguing optoelectronic properties, including anisotropic photoconductivity and superconductivity. Self-assemblies of fullerene derivatives in the bulk, as well as their coassembly with other species, enable the fabrication of functional materials with well-defined microstructures, such as donor–acceptor interfaces and complex superlattice phases. These materials demonstrate enhanced performance in various applications such as energy storage, conversion, and transmission, including lithium-ion batteries, organic solar cells, electrochemical capacitors, and superconducting materials. The article provides a summary and outlook on their potential in advancing energy technologies.