Fullerene hits for green energy—Marching towards solar cells
Abstract
Since discovery and after decades of scientific endeavors on fullerene and derived nanomaterials, we note wide-span high-tech applications in the fields of energy/electronic devices—to—space/defense/engineering—to—medical areas. These days, conformist explorations on carbon nanoparticles, like fullerene, trend towards the use of green synthesis methods and sources, leading to the development of environmentally friendly nanomaterials and applications. Fullerene, as one of the most remarkable nanotechnological breakthroughs, has emerged as a leading competitor for designing ecofriendly or green energy devices and systems. Looking at the current scientific demand for fullerene in one of the most efficient ecological energy conversion systems, like solar cells, we plan this perspective manuscript to unveil the true state-of-the-art and progress on green-sourced fullerene nanomaterials for photovoltaics. As per expanded research over the past few decades, manufacturing/application of fullerene nanomaterials via sustainable ecological sources/techniques led to next-level utilization for green energy devices, especially for high-performance solar cells with notably high power conversion efficiencies, photovoltaic parameters, low price, light weight, nontoxicity, and fine processability. Despite the research progress so far, commercialization and real-world utilization of fullerene-derived green solar cells seem to be reliant upon overcoming challenges for integrating these nanomaterials into today’s most scorching next-generation green energy devices or assemblies.
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