Fullerene-Based Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Developing efficient water electrolysis technologies for hydrogen production is essential to the sustainable deployment of hydrogen energy, and the design of nonprecious-metal electrocatalysts is a key strategy for reducing the overall cost. Fullerene (C₆₀), featuring an all-carbon cage architecture, a highly conjugated hollow π-electron system, and reversible redox behavior, can markedly facilitate electron transfer during electrocatalysis and has thus emerged as a promising class of catalytic materials. This review summarizes recent progress in electrocatalysts derived from diverse fullerene-based structural motifs and their synthetic approaches. By examining their applications and mechanistic roles in the hydrogen evolution reaction, we further extend the discussion to broader electrocatalytic processes to highlight the general design principles and substantial potential enabled by fullerene-based architectures. Finally, we outline the key challenges and future directions in this field, aiming to provide guidance for the rational design of next-generation, high-performance fullerene-based electrocatalysts.