Electrocatalytic Properties of Fullerene-Based Materials

This chapter provides a comprehensive review of research related to the electrocatalytic properties of fullerenes and their derivatives. The paper begins with general information about problems that occur in electrocatalysis and its role in the modern technology of clean energy sources. Next, general information about fullerenes and their derivatives is presented. Additionally, their role in many applications is mentioned. An electrocatalytic area is noticed. Thus, chemical processes based on the electrocatalytic properties of fullerenes, and their derivatives are described. The electrocatalytic activity of materials such as doped, exo-, and endohedral fullerenes is described. Additionally, fullerene-like materials or materials formed from fullerenes are mentioned. Composite materials of fullerenes and carbon nanostructures, metal–organic frameworks, metal oxides, metallic nanoparticles, or bimetallic systems are discussed. Their electrocatalytic performance is compared to commercial catalysts used in these systems. To date, many different catalytic systems have been studied, and this scientific area is very broad. Recently, carbon nanomaterials have been studied intensively due to their unusual chemical and physical properties. Among them, special attention has also been paid to fullerenes as pure carbon allotropes with unique structures and properties.