Recent Progress on Fullerene–Based Functional Materials for Energy Conversion

ABSTRACT Efficient energy conversion and environmental protection are still constrained by rapid carrier recombination, unstable interfaces, limited active site, and so on. Owing to the unique electronic structure and tunable physicochemical properties, fullerenes offer a powerful platform to address these bottlenecks in photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and energy storage. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in the classification and design strategies of fullerene–based functional materials, as well as their innovative applications in photo‐/electro‐/thermo‐catalysis and energy storage. From the perspective of material system design, we emphasize the construction strategies of inorganic hybrids such as fullerene–metal nanoparticle and fullerene–semiconductor composites, as well as fullerene–organic hybrid materials. In catalytic applications, the review analyzes activity enhancement mechanisms of fullerene‐based materials in photocatalytic pollutant degradation, photo‐/electro‐catalytic water splitting, CO ₂ conversion, and highlights their innovative roles in traditional thermal catalytic processes such as ammonia synthesis. In the field of energy storage devices, we focus on the essential function of fullerene derivatives in crucial segments like the electron transport layer, interfacial modification/passivation layers of solar cells. Finally, the challenges and opportunities faced by fullerene–based functional materials are discussed. Overall, this review not only highlights advances in fullerene–based functional materials but also outlines a roadmap for harnessing their structural and electronic advantages to guide the rational design of next‐generation strategies for energy conversion and environmental remediation.