A modular photocurrent generation system based on phospholipid-assembled fullerenes.

A modular photoconversion system based on phospholipid-incorporated fullerene is reported. It relies on the noncovalent formation of a lipid bilayer on an electrode to achieve precise placement of fullerene and can be quickly implemented in aqueous media. Photosensitizing dyes can be conveniently added to the system to achieve higher conversion efficiency. It is suggested that amphiphilic lipids are attractive materials for organic solar cells because of their versatility in molecular assembly and chemical conjugation.