Photovoltaic cells using composite nanoclusters of porphyrins and fullerenes with gold nanoparticles

Novel organic solar cells have been prepared using quaternary self-organization of porphyrin (donor) and fullerene (acceptor) units by clusterization with gold nanoparticles on nanostructured SnO2 electrodes. First, porphyrin-alkanethiolate monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles (H2PCnMPC: n is the number of methylene groups in the spacer) are prepared (secondary organization) starting from the primary component (porphyrin-alkanethiol). These porphyrin-modified gold nanoparticles form complexes with fullerene molecules (tertiary organization), and they are clusterized in acetonitrile/toluene mixed solvent (quaternary organization). The highly colored composite clusters can then be assembled as three-dimensional arrays onto nanostructured SnO2 films to afford the OTE/SnO2/(H2PCnMPC+C60)m electrode using an electrophoretic deposition method. The film of the composite clusters with gold nanoparticle exhibits an incident photon-to-photocurrent efficiency (IPCE) as high as 54% and broad photocurrent action spectra (up to 1000 nm). The power conversion efficiency of the OTE/SnO2/(H2PC15MPC+C60)m composite electrode reaches as high as 1.5%, which is 45 times higher than that of the reference system consisting of the both single components of porphyrin and fullerene.     

Clusterization, electrophoretic deposition, and photoelectrochemical properties of fullerene-functionalized carbon nanotube composites

We have successfully developed a new methodology for the self-organization of C(60) molecules on the sidewall of carbon nanotubes for use in photoelectrochemical devices. Novel nanocarbon composites of fullerene (e.g., C(60)) and highly soluble, chemically functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (f-SWNT) have been prepared by the rapid injection of a poor solvent (e.g., acetonitrile) into a mixed solution of C(60) and f-SWNT in o-dichlorobenzene. Measurements by using scanning electron microscopy of cast samples revealed that the composites are categorized into three groups; i) f-SWNT bundles covered with layers of C(60) molecules, ii) round, large C(60) clusters (sizes of 500-1000 nm) containing f-SWNT, and iii) typical, round C(60) clusters (sizes of 150-250 nm). The electrophoretic deposition of the composites onto a nanostructured SnO(2) electrode yielded the hierarchical film with a gradient composition depending on the difference in the mobilities of C(60) and f-SWNT during the electrophoretic process. The composite film exhibited an incident photon-to-photocurrent efficiency as high as 18 % at lambda=400 nm under an applied potential of 0.05 V vs. SCE. The photocurrent generation efficiency is the highest value among carbon nanotube-based photoelectrochemical devices in which carbon nanotubes are deposited electrophoretically, electrostatically or covalently onto semiconducting electrodes. The highly aligned structure of C(60) molecules on f-SWNT can rationalize the efficient photocurrent generation. The results obtained here will provide valuable information on the design of carbon nanotube-based molecular devices.     

Effects of fullerene substituents on structure and photoelectrochemical properties of fullerene nanoclusters electrophoretically deposited on nanostructured SnO2 electrodes

Two kinds of fullerene derivatives have been designed to examine the effect of the fullerene substituents on the structure and photoelectrochemical properties of fullerene clusters electrophoretically deposited on nanostructured SnO(2) electrodes. The cluster sizes increase and the incident photon-to-current efficiencies decrease with introduction of large substituents into C(60). The trend for photocurrent generation efficiency as well as surface morphology on the electrode can be explained by the steric bulkiness around the C(60) molecules. A C(60) molecule with two alkoxy chains is suggested to give a bilayer vesicle structure, irrespective of the hydrophobic nature of both the C(60) and alkoxy chain moieties. Such information will be valuable for the design of photoactive molecules, which are fabricated onto electrode surfaces to exhibit high energy conversion efficiency.     

Organized assemblies of single wall carbon nanotubes and porphyrin for photochemical solar cells: charge injection from excited porphyrin into single-walled carbon nanotubes

Photochemical solar cells have been constructed from organized assemblies of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) and protonated porphyrin on nanostructured SnO2 electrodes. The protonated form of porphyrin (H4P2+) and SWCNT composites form 0.5-3.0 microm-sized rodlike structures and they can be assembled onto nanostructured SnO2 films [optically transparent electrode OTE/SnO2] by an electrophoretic deposition method. These organized assemblies are photoactive and absorb strongly in the entire visible region. The incident photon to photocurrent efficiency (IPCE) of OTE/SnO2/SWCNT-H4P2+ is approximately 13% at an applied potential of 0.2 V versus saturated calomel electrode. Femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy experiments confirm the decay of the excited porphyrin in the SWCNT-H4P2+ assembly as it injects electrons into SWCNT. The dual role of SWCNT in promoting photoinduced charge separation and facilitating charge transport is presented.     

Drastic difference in lifetimes of the charge-separated state of the formanilide-anthraquinone dyad versus the ferrocene-formanilide-anthraquinone triad and their photoelectrochemical properties of the composite films with fullerene clusters

A long-lived charge-separated (CS) state, which can be observed even at 900 mus after laser excitation, has been attained in the formanilide-anthraquinone dyad (FA-AQ) in dimethyl sulfoxide, whereas the CS lifetime is shortened significantly to 20 ps in the ferrocene-formanilide-anthraquinone triad (Fc-FA-AQ). Such a drastic decrease in the CS lifetime by the addition of a ferrocene moiety to the FA-AQ dyad is ascribed to a decrease in the driving force of back electron transfer and an increase in the reorganization energy of electron transfer despite the longer charge-separation distance. The FA-AQ dyad and the Fc-FA-AQ triad have been employed as components of photovoltaic cells, where composite molecular nanoclusters of the FA-AQ dyad or the Fc-FA-AQ triad with fullerene (C60) are assembled onto a SnO2 electrode using an electrophoretic method. The composite films of the Fc-FA-AQ triad exhibit 10 times smaller values of an incident photon-to-photocurrent efficiency (IPCE) as compared with those of the FA-AQ dyad in accordance with a drastic decrease of the CS lifetime by addition of a ferrocene moiety to the FA-AQ dyad.     

Hydrogen bonding effects on the surface structure and photoelectrochemical properties of nanostructured SnO2 electrodes modified with porphyrin and fullerene composites

Hydrogen bonding effects on surface structure, photophysical properties, and photoelectrochemistry have been examined in a mixed film of porphyrin and fullerene composites with and without hydrogen bonding on indium tin oxide and nanostructured SnO2 electrodes. The nanostructured SnO2 electrodes modified with the mixed films of porphyrin and fullerene composites with hydrogen bonding exhibited efficient photocurrent generation compared to the reference systems without hydrogen bonding. Atomic force microscopy, infrared reflection absorption, and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopies and time-resolved fluorescence lifetime and transient absorption spectroscopic measurements disclosed the relationship between the surface structure and photophysical and photoelectrochemical properties relating to the formation of hydrogen bonding between the porphyrins and/or the C60 moieties in the films on the electrode surface. These results show that hydrogen bonding is a highly promising methodology for the fabrication of donor and acceptor composites on nanostructured semiconducting electrodes, which exhibit high photoelectrochemical properties.     

Effects of porphyrin substituents on film structure and photoelectrochemical properties of porphyrin/fullerene composite clusters electrophoretically deposited on nanostructured SnO2 electrodes

We have systematically examined the substituent effects of meso-tetraphenylporphyrins on film structures and the photoelectrochemical properties of the composite clusters of free-base porphyrin and C(60) electrophoretically deposited on nanostructured SnO(2) electrodes. The photocurrent generation efficiency was found to correlate with the complexation ability of the porphyrin for C(60). Basically, the incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) value was increased with increasing relative amounts of the porphyrin versus C(60) in the films. The unique molecular arrangement of the porphyrin with the simple, specific substituents (i.e., methoxy groups at the meta-positions of the meso-phenyl rings of tetraphenylporphyrins (3,5-OMeTPP; TPP=tetraphenylporphyrin)) and C(60) on SnO(2) electrodes resulted in the largest IPCE value (ca. 60 %) among this type of photoelectrochemical device. The rapid formation of the composite clusters and microcrystals from the combination of 3,5-OMeTPP and C(60) in a mixed solvent is unique as the association is accelerated by intermolecular interactions (i.e., hydrogen-bonding and CH-pi interactions) between the methoxy groups of the porphyrins and the porphyrin/C(60), in addition to the pi-pi interactions between the porphyrins/C(60) and C(60) molecules. Both the films and single crystals composed of the porphyrin and C(60) exhibited remarkably high electron mobility (7x10(-2) and 0.4 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1)), which is comparable to the value for highly efficient bulk heterojunction solar cells. Our experimental results have successfully demonstrated the importance of nanostructured electron- and hole-transporting pathways in bulk heterojunction solar cells. Such a finding will provide basic and valuable information on the design of molecular photovoltaics at the molecular level.     

Host-guest interactions in the supramolecular incorporation of fullerenes into tailored holes on porphyrin-modified gold nanoparticles in molecular photovoltaics

Novel gold nanoparticles modified with a mixed self-assembled monolayer of porphyrin alkanethiol and short-chain alkanethiol were prepared (first step) to examine the size and shape effects of surface holes (host) on porphyrin-modified gold nanoparticles. The porphyrin-modified gold nanoparticles with a size of about 10 nm incorporated C60 molecules (guest) into the large, bucket-shaped holes, leading to the formation of a supramolecular complex of porphyrin-C60 composites (second step). Large composite clusters with a size of 200-400 nm were grown from the supramolecular complex of porphyrin-C60 composites in mixed solvents (third step) and deposited electrophoretically onto nanostructured SnO2 electrodes (fourth step). Differences in the porphyrin:C60 ratio were found to affect the structures and photoelectrochemical properties of the composite clusters in mixed solvents as well as on the SnO2 electrodes. The photoelectrochemical performance of a photoelectrochemical device consisting of SnO2 electrodes modified with the porphyrin-C60 composites was enhanced relative to a reference system with small, wedged-shaped surface holes on the gold nanoparticle. Time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy with fluorescence lifetime measurements suggest the occurrence of ultrafast electron transfer from the porphyrin excited singlet states to C60 or the formation of a partial charge-transfer state in the composite clusters of supramolecular complexes formed between porphyrin and C60 leading to efficient photocurrent generation in the system. Elucidation of the relationship between host-guest interactions and photoelectrochemical function in the present system will provide valuable information on the design of molecular devices and machines including molecular photovoltaics.     

Photogeneration of charge carriers and their transport properties in poly[bis(p-n-butylphenyl)silane

The photocarrier generation mechanism and mobility in poly[bis(p-n-butylphenyl)silane] (PBPS) thin films doped with a variety of electron acceptors are studied by time-resolved microwave conductivity (TRMC) measurements. It was found that fullerene is a suitable electron acceptor for PBPS as it provides the highest product of photocarrier generation yield phi and mobility Sigmamu under excitation at 532 and 355 nm. The observed high phiSigmamu value of 4.5 x 10(-3) cm(2)/(V s) under excitation at 193 nm (6.39 eV) can be attributed to the direct ionization of PBPS molecules. The photoinduced electron transfer between C(60) and PBPS was investigated in a solution sample by laser flash photolysis under excitation at 532 nm. On the basis of the extinction coefficient of PBPS(*+), transient absorption of PBPS(*+) provides a maximum value of phi of 0.83% for the electron-transfer reaction from PBPS to (3)C(60). On the basis of this value of phi, the intrinsic intrachain mobility of holes on the PBPS backbone is estimated to be higher than 1.7 x 10(-2) cm(2)/(V s), suggesting the presence of a high conducting path along the Si backbone of PBPS.     

Electrochemical nanostructuring of fullerene films--spectroscopic evidence for C60 polymer formation and hydrogenation

Electrochemical reduction of ordered C60 fullerene films in aqueous solution was studied by AFM, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and elastic recoil detection analysis. During the irreversible reduction process the film morphology changed from a heteroepitaxial (111) surface to a nanostructured array with clusters of 20 to 50 nm lateral size on average. On the molecular level the initial C60 underwent electrochemical reactions to form C60 polymers and hydrogenated C60. Chemical follow-up reactions of electrochemically formed C60- with water are responsible for the different reduction behaviour of C60 films in aqueous solution compared to C60 reduction in organic solvents and to C60 doping with alkali metals. Based on the spectroscopic analysis a reaction scheme accounting for the chemical processes at the C60 / aqueous electrolyte interface is presented.     

基于SnO2为修饰层的Au-Pt / SnO2 / Au复合电极研究

用真空镀膜法在Au电极上沉积SnO₂薄膜，在HAuCl₄和H₂PtCl₄的混合溶液中利用直接还原法，将Au-Pt双金属纳米颗粒组装在SnO₂ / Au电极上，得到Au-Pt / SnO₂ / Au复合电极。采用SEM、TEM、XPS及CV曲线测定对Au-Pt / SnO₂ / Au复合电极进行了表征。结果表明:复合电极上双金属纳米颗粒分布均匀，粒子粒径约为25 nm左右。SnO₂作为修饰层以配位键与双金属纳米粒子结合。Au-Pt / SnO₂ / Au复合电极具有良好对甲醇氧化的电化学性能。     

Physicochemical aspects of novel surfactantless, self-templated mesoporous SnO2 thin films

A novel method of synthesis consisting of the production of ordered arrangements of tubular pores distributed inside SnO2 annealed thin films, which are prepared from a rotating disk process carried out at 2000-3500 rpm, is herein described. The main novelty is that no surfactant molecules are required in order to create these ordered pore structures; the templating entities are supramolecular assemblies of oligomeric chains formed during the extra-long aging allowed to the sol-gel processing of tin(IV) tetra-tert-amiloxide, Sn(OAm(t))4, chelated with acetylacetone molecules. Low angle X-ray diffraction peaks of SnO2 thin films calcined at 500 degrees C clearly certify the existence of ordered mesostructures when employing the right H2O/Sn(OAm(t))4 molar ratio during the SnO2 sol-gel synthesis. The final SnO2 ordered mesostructures are reminiscent of those linked to MCM-41 and SBA-15 substrates. Pore-size distribution analyses proceeding from N2 sorption isotherms at 76 K on the SnO2 thin films calcined at 500 degrees C unequivocally confirm the presence of tubular mesopores (mode pore sizes ranging from 5 to 7 nm). The thicknesses of the SnO2 films range from 80 to 150 nm after performing a drying process at 100 degrees C and from 70 to 125 nm after calcining in air at 500 degrees C; these film thicknesses show, in general, decreasing trends when either the spinning rate or the H2O/(Sn(OAm(t))4 ratio is increased.     

Quantum dot solar cells. Electrophoretic deposition of CdSe-C60 composite films and capture of photogenerated electrons with nC60 cluster shell

Encapsulation with a nC60 cluster shell facilitates capture of photogenerated electrons from CdSe quantum dots following visible light excitation. Electrophoretic deposition of CdSe-C60 composite clusters on optically transparent electrodes (OTE/SnO2) produce photoactive films that exhibit photoelectrochemical activity. The observed photoconversion efficiency (IPCE) of approximately 4% is significantly greater than those observed with CdSe or nC60 films.     

Ultrafast excitation transfer and charge stabilization in a newly assembled photosynthetic antenna-reaction center mimic composed of boron dipyrrin, zinc porphyrin and fullerene

A self-assembled supramolecular triad as a model to mimic the light-induced events of the photosynthetic antenna-reaction center, that is, ultrafast excitation transfer followed by electron transfer ultimately generating a long-lived charge-separated state, has been accomplished. Boron dipyrrin (BDP), zinc porphyrin (ZnP) and fullerene (C(60)), respectively, constitute the energy donor, electron donor and electron acceptor segments of the antenna-reaction center imitation. Unlike in the previous models, the BDP entity was placed between the electron donor, ZnP and electron acceptor, C(60) entities. For the construction, benzo-18-crown-6 functionalized BDP was synthesized and subsequently reacted with 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl functionalized ZnP through the central boron atom to form the crown-BDP-ZnP dyad. Next, an alkyl ammonium functionalized fullerene was used to self-assemble the crown ether entity of the dyad via ion-dipole interactions. The newly formed supramolecular triad was fully characterized by spectroscopic, computational and electrochemical methods. Steady-state fluorescence and excitation studies revealed the occurrence of energy transfer upon selective excitation of the BDP in the dyad. Further studies involving the pump-probe technique revealed excitation transfer from the (1)BDP* to ZnP to occur in about 7 ps, much faster than that reported for other systems in this series of triads, as a consequence of shorter distance between the entities. Upon forming the supramolecular triad by self-assembling fullerene, the (1)ZnP(*) produced by direct excitation or by energy transfer mechanism resulted in an initial electron transfer to the BDP entity. The charge recombination resulted in the population of the triplet excited state of C(60), from where additional electron transfer occurred to produce C(60)(?-):crown-BDP-ZnP(?+) ion pair as the final charge-separated species. Nanosecond transient absorption studies revealed the lifetime of the charge-separated state to be ~100 μs, the longest ever reported for this type of antenna-reaction center mimics, indicating better charge stabilization as a result of the different disposition of the entities of the supramolecular triad.     

A photosensitizer dinuclear ruthenium complex: intramolecular energy transfer to a covalently linked fullerene acceptor

A fullerene derivative (5) in which a dinuclear ruthenium complex is covalently linked to a fulleropyrrolidine (FP) through a rigid spacer has been prepared through azomethine ylide cycloaddition to C60. Electrochemical and photophysical studies revealed that ground-state electronic interactions between the bimetallic ruthenium chromophore and the FP moiety are small. The absorption spectrum of 5 displays a metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transition at about 620 nm in CH2Cl2 which is shifted by nearly 160 nm relative to that of a previously reported mononuclear dyad (8). The photophysical investigations have also shown that both in dichloromethane and acetonitrile the photoexcited MLCT state of dyad 5 transforms into the fullerene triplet excited state with a quantum yield of 0.19 and that, contrary to mononuclear dyad 8, electron transfer, if any under the applied conditions, is negligible relative to energy transfer.     

Gold films deposited over regular arrays of polystyrene nanospheres as highly effective SERS substrates from visible to NIR

Gold nanostructured films of various thicknesses (15, 30, and 60 nm) are deposited over regular arrays of polystyrene nanospheres in an attempt to evaluate their potential as SERS-active substrates. Atomic force microscopy is used to topographically characterize the substrates as well as to ensure the thickness of the deposited gold films. The optical response of the prepared substrates recommends their use in SERS experiments with multiple laser lines from visible and NIR spectral domains. The assessment of the substrates' SERS activity is performed by using the 532, 633, and 830 nm excitation lines and different average enhancement factor (EF) values are obtained depending on the film thickness and employed laser line. The 60 nm gold nanostructured film generates the greatest local electromagnetic field confinement under NIR excitation and consequently gives rise to maximum SERS enhancement. The large tunability of surface plasmon excitation combined with the advantage of relatively high exhibited average EF values obtained under NIR excitation recommends these substrates as outstanding candidates for upcoming investigations of biological relevant molecules.     

Control over photoinduced energy and electron transfer in supramolecular polyads of covalently linked azaBODIPY-bisporphyrin 'molecular clip' hosting fullerene

A 'molecular clip' featuring a near-IR emitting fluorophore, BF(2)-chelated tetraarylazadipyrromethane (aza-BODIPY) covalently linked to two porphyrins (MP, M = 2H or Zn) has been newly synthesized to host a three-dimensional electron acceptor fullerene via a 'two-point' metal-ligand axial coordination. Efficient singlet-singlet excitation transfer from (1)ZnP* to aza-BODIPY was witnessed in the dyad and triad in nonpolar and less polar solvents, such as toluene and o-dichlorobenzene, however, in polar solvents, additional electron transfer occurred along with energy transfer. A supramolecular tetrad was formed by assembling bis-pyridine functionalized fullerene via a 'two-point' metal-ligand axial coordination, and the resulted complex was characterized by optical absorption and emission, computational, and electrochemical methods. Electron transfer from photoexcited zinc porphyrin to C(60) is witnessed in the supramolecular tetrad from the femtosecond transient absorption spectral studies. Further, the supramolecular polyads (triad or tetrad) were utilized to build photoelectrochemical cells to check their ability to convert light into electricity by fabricating FTO/SnO(2)/polyad electrodes. The presence of azaBODIPY and fullerene entities of the tetrad improved the overall light energy conversion efficiency. An incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency of up to 17% has been achieved for the tetrad modified electrode.     

利用给体-π-受体分子模板在Au(111)电极表面构筑富勒烯带状结构(英文)

富勒烯与功能分子之间的电荷作用已经被广泛应用于功能性器件的构筑中.这些功能器件的性能与电极表面的薄膜排布结构有着密切关系.因此,研究电极表面的富勒烯和功能分子的组装结构对这些器件的构筑和功能的发挥有着重要意义.本文利用电化学扫描隧道显微镜技术,在HClO4溶液中系统研究了C60分子与有机电子给体-π-受体分子C16H33O-I3CNQ[Z-β-(5-hexadecyloxy-1,3,3-trimethyl-2-indolium)-α-cyano-4-styryl dicyanomethanide]在Au(111)电极表面的二维组装结构.研究发现:C16H33O-I3CNQ分子在Au(111)电极表面组装形成具有短程有序性的条陇状结构;而C60分子在C16H33O-I3CNQ模板之上组装形成了带状结构.C60分子带状结构的形成方向受到了C16H33O-I3CNQ分子中电子给体-π-受体部分排列结构的影响.C60分子与C16H33O-I3CNQ分子之间的π-π堆积作用和电荷转移作用对这种带状结构的形成有着密切关系.这一结果为利用富勒烯和功能分子之间的作用构筑功能器件提供了一种新的制备方法.     

Conductive-matrix-mediated alkaline Fe(III/VI) charge transfer: three-electron storage, reversible super-iron thin film cathodes

An extended conductive matrix facilitates a 100-fold enhancement in charge storage for reversible Fe(III/VI) super-iron thin films. These films were deposited, by electrochemical reduction of Na2FeO4, with an intrinsic high capacity 3 e- cathodic storage of 485 mAh g(-1). Whereas 3 nm Fe(III/VI) films exhibited a high degree of reversibility (throughout 100 charge/discharge cycles), thicker films had been increasingly passive toward the Fe(VI) charge transfer. Films were alternatively deposited on either smooth or on extended conductive matrixes composed of high-surface-area Pt, Ti, and Au and probed galvanostatically and via cyclic voltammetry. A 100 nm Fe(VI) cathode, on the extended conductive matrixes, sustained 100-200 reversible three-electrode charge/discharge cycles, and a 19 nm thin film cathode sustained 500 such cycles. With a metal hydride anode, full cell storage was probed, and a 250 nm super-iron film cathode film sustained 40 charge/discharge cycles, and a 25 nm film was reversible throughout 300 cycles. Fe(VI) salts exhibit higher cathodic capacity and environmental advantages, and the films are of relevance toward the next generation charge storage chemistry for reversible cathodes.     

Gold cluster formation on a fullerene surface

The growth of Au clusters on a fullerene thin film was investigated by in situ photoelectron spectroscopy in the ultraviolet (UPS) and x-ray (XPS) regime. Due to its highly corrugated surface fullerene films provide a wide range of bonding sites which could be exploited as molecular templates and serve to create a cluster superstructure. To gain insight into the fullerene-Au interaction two types of experiments were performed: (i) the deposition of Au on a fullerene surface, and (ii) the deposition of fullerenes on a Au surface. In both experiments an island growth mode is observed. The deposition of submonolayer amounts of C60 onto a gold film showed that the main interaction of the two species is due to chemisorption of the first C60 monolayer. In addition a constant band bending in the fullerene film is detected, but the UPS valence-band spectra show that there is no charge transfer from the Au to the C60 lowest unoccupied molecular orbital. In the reverse experiment, the cluster growth of Au on the corrugated C60 surface, the analysis of the Au core level does not reveal a specific bonding or nucleation site for Au atoms and clusters. This is in contrast to observations with Si clusters, which prefer to reside in the troughs between the fullerene molecules. The Au clusters grow continually from a size of about 55 atoms for the early stages of growth up to 150 atoms for the deposition of a nominal coverage of 1.5 nm. These data are derived from an analysis of the d-band splitting and the Au 4f core-level shift due to delayed photohole relaxation. The thermal stability of the Au-clusters-covered fullerene film was investigated by annealing in situ up to temperatures of 650 degrees C. For temperatures up to 450 degrees C a continuous growth of the clusters is detected, which is accompanied by a slight drop in Au concentration in the range of XPS for annealing temperatures higher than 350 degrees C. This may be due to a ripening of the clusters. The presence of Au apparently delays fullerene sublimation. The film shows a very good thermal stability and even after annealing at 650 degrees C there is still a fullerene film detectable in the photoelectron spectroscopy spectra.