Electrochemical hydrogenation of C60 fullerene films

Electrochemical reductions of C60 fullerene films were studied in the presence of Brّnsted acids to form hydrogenated fullerenes. It was established that a simple electrochemical treatment, reversible reduction and oxidation of the films formed such structurally rearranged layers that could be transformed to HnC60 (where n depended on the acid, on the concentration of the acid and on the electrode potential). Hydrogenated fullerene films were shown to behave as semiconductors with very much increased photoefficiency.