C60

C60, also known as buckminsterfullerene or buckyball, is a spherical allotrope of carbon consisting of 60 carbon atoms arranged in a truncated icosahedral structure. It functions as a semiconductor with tunable electronic properties and serves primarily in research and emerging applications rather than established high-volume manufacturing. C60 is investigated for organic photovoltaics, electron acceptors in organic solar cells, medical imaging agents, and antimicrobial coatings, where its unique three-dimensional molecular geometry and ability to accept/donate electrons offer advantages over planar organic semiconductors, though production costs and scalability remain barriers to widespread industrial adoption.