Synthesis, monolayer fabrication and photoelectric conversion property of two pyrrolidinofullerene carboxylic acid derivatives

Two kinds of covalently tethered fullerene monolayers, which exhibit the photoelectric conversion property, are reported. The monolayers were fabricated on hydrophilic indium-tin oxide (ITO), quartz, and mica by an esterification reaction and characterized by contact angle, AFM, UV spectrum, and cyclic voltammetry. The thicknesses of the films calculated by the MM2 molecular mechanics method were in good agreement with the results of AFM, indicating the formation of monolayers. The photoelectric conversion properties of both monolayers were studied.