Bulk chemicals such as ethylene glycol (EG) can be industrially synthesized from either ethylene or syngas, but the latter undergoes a bottleneck reaction and requires high hydrogen pressures. We show that fullerene (exemplified by C ₆₀ ) can act as an electron buffer for a copper-silica catalyst (Cu/SiO ₂ ). Hydrogenation of dimethyl oxalate over a C ₆₀ -Cu/SiO ₂ catalyst at ambient pressure and temperatures of 180° to 190°C had an EG yield of up to 98 ± 1%. In a kilogram-scale reaction, no deactivation of the catalyst was seen after 1000 hours. This mild route for the final step toward EG can be combined with the already-industrialized ambient reaction from syngas to the intermediate of dimethyl oxalate.

Low-cost solution-processed copper iodide replaces PEDOT:PSS in inverted planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells with high efficiency and enhanced stability.

Low-temperature, solution-processed cerium oxide can serve as a promising electron transport layer to replace commonly used TiO₂ in planar perovskite solar cells, with high efficiency and enhanced stability.