Self-assembly of highly conductive self-n-doped fullerene ammonium halides and their application in the in situ solution-processable fabrication of working electrodes for alcohol electrooxidation

Stable and highly conductive self-n-doped fullerene ammonium halides are promising optoelectronic materials. It is necessary to thoroughly understand their structure–function relationship and to develop their applications. Here, the assembly behaviors of the self-n-doped fullerene ammonium halides, as well as the functional areas in the well-developed 2D–3D lamellar structures in their ordered aggregates are systematically characterized using comprehensive methods. In the self-assembly, the solvation effect of DMSO promotes the flexibility of side-chains and drives the formation of fullerene ammonium halides into ordered bilayer structures. The conductivity-active area, which contains tightly packed halide anions sandwiched between fullerenes, provides good electron transfer property. Remarkably, residual DMSO in the side-chain area can induce aqueous Pd precursor into the highly conductive framework. After reduction, Pd nanoparticles are immobilized in the confined spaces within the conductive support. The resulting electrode can be used to electrooxidize ethanol. This study provides a facile solution strategy for the in situ fabrication of electrocatalysts on working electrodes, which can be applied in direct alcohol fuel cells.