Abstract: New-generation solar cells, including organic solar cells, perovskite solar cells and quantum dot solar cells, are pretty promising photovoltaic devices. At present, the energy conversion efficiency of organic solar cells and perovskite solar cells exceeds 19% and 25.6% respectively. Fullerenes are widely used in organic solar cells active layer and interface layer, perovskite solar cells active layer and intermediate layer due to their high electron mobility and good electronic properties. In organic solar cells, fullerenes act as the active layer receptors to improve the electron transport capacity of devices. As an interface modification layer, it can effectively reduce the contact resistance and inhibit the recombination of carriers. In perovskite solar cells, fullerene materials act as active layer additive to passivate perovskite defect and restrain hysteresis effect. As an intermediate layer, the interface morphology can be optimized and charge extraction and transport can be promoted. In this paper, the research progress of fullerene materials in each component is reviewed, and the development prospect of fullerene materials in each component is prospected, and the future research direction is proposed.