Large-area transfer of nanometre-thin C60 films

Fullerenes, with well-defined molecular structures and high scalability, hold promise as fundamental building blocks for creating novel carbon materials. The fabrication and transfer of large-area films with precisely controlled thicknesses and morphologies on desired surfaces are crucial for designing and developing new fullerene-based materials and devices. In this work, for the first time, we present strategies for solid-state transferring C60 molecular nanometre-thin films, with dimensions of centimetres in lateral size and thicknesses controlled in the range of 1–20 nm, onto various substrates. Furthermore, we have successfully fabricated centimetre-wide graphene/C60/graphene heterostructures through layer-by-layer stacking of C60 and graphene films. This transfer methodology is versatile, allowing for the complete transfer of chemically modified C60 films, including oxygenated C60 films and C60Pdn organometallic polymer films. Additionally, direct solid-state transfer of C60 and C60Pdn films onto electrode surfaces has enabled their electrocatalytic performance for the hydrogen evolution reaction to be probed directly. This thin-film transfer strategy facilitates the facile preparation and transfer of large-area C60 films, offering a distinct platform for fullerene chemistry and experimental synthesis of novel carbon structures.