Electrodeposition of C₆₀ Cluster Aggregates on Nanostructured SnO₂ Films for Enhanced Photocurrent Generation

Clusters of C₆₀ formed in acetonitrile (ACN)/toluene solutions are deposited as thin films on nanostructured SnO₂ electrodes under the influence of an electric field. These films exhibit remarkable photoelectrochemical activity under visible light excitation. The photocurrent observed with these novel electrodes (∼0.14 mA/cm² obtained with visible light excitation, λ > 425 nm, 130 mW/cm²) is 2−3 orders of magnitude larger than previously reported values for a fullerene system. Direct electron transfer between the excited C₆₀ clusters deposited on SnO₂ nanocrystallites and the redox couple (I₃^-/I^-) in solution is responsible for the enhanced photocurrent generation.