Breakthroughs of fullerene in optoelectronic devices—An overview

Abstract

This state-of-the art review is designed to state the competence of fullerene nanostructures in optoelectronic devices. Fullerene molecules own valuable structural, electronic, optical, electrical, and physical properties to be employed in optoelectronics device sector. Especially, modification of fullerene nanostructures and nanocomposite formation led to high performance light emitting diodes, optical sensors, and photovoltaics systems. Combination of conjugated polymers/molecules with fullerene has found to further enhance performance efficacy towards these devices. In nanocomposite form, fullerene molecules have been known to develop conjugation with conducting polymers for better charge, hole, or electron transference leading to device performance assistances. Consequently, conjugated polymers like poly(3-hexylthiophene), poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl), polystyrene sulfonate, polycyclopenta-dithiophene-benzothiadiazole, poly(2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene), 4,4′-bis[(p-trichlorosilylpropylphenyl)phenylamino] biphenyl, etc. reinforced with fullerene have been utilized. Polymers with grafted fullerenes such as [6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid hexyl ester and reinforced fullerene have also been recognized. In addition, non-conducting polymers like poly(methyl methacrylate) nanocomposite with fullerene was exploited. Mostly, fullerene C60 and C70 have been preferred as nanofiller in optoelectronic assemblies. Effectiveness of fullerene nanomaterials has been observed for luminescent light emitting diodes, solar cells (bulk heterojunction/polymer/perovskite), and optical sensors (photo-/organic/bacterial sensing). Nevertheless, fullerene nanocomposite designs need to be comprehensively investigated for better device performance by overcoming underlying working mechanism, fabrication, and performance challenges in related fields.

Keywords

• Fullerene
• Nanocomposite
• Conjugated
• Charge transfer
• Light emitting diode
• Optical sensor