Structural characteristics of soluble fullerene films

Films of two fullerenes, functionalized with different solubilizing moieties, in the pure form and blended with poly(3-hexylthiophene), have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry, X-ray diffraction and UV-Vis spectroscopy techniques. The conclusion drawn from this characterization is that the supramolecular order of the films affects the physicochemical characteristics of these materials, and depends on the nature of the solubilizing substituents linked to the fullerene moiety. Implications for the use of such films in fullerene-based solar cells are also presented and discussed.