Functionalized fullerenes, when excited at any of a broad range of wavelengths in an oxygen free environment, undergo luminescence. The oxygen sensitive luminescence of functionalized fullerenes is used for numerous applications including oxygen detection; irradiation induced healing of polymeric materials; and phosphors for optical location and display applications. The degradation of the functionalized fullerenes allows for the detection of oxygen by diminished luminescence when the fullerenes are exposed to an irradiation source, such as a laser beam, in the presence of oxygen. The luminescence from a portion of a surface of a material with functionalized fullerenes allows for the location of the surface containing a functionalized fullerene target in the absence of oxygen or to heat the object in the area irradiated that is exposed to oxygen. The localized heating can be used to repair defects to a material containing the functionalized fullerenes. Materials containing functionalized fullerenes can be used as phosphors in display applications.