Why did the ability to make fullerenes in large quantities accelerate fullerene research?

The ability to produce fullerenes in macroscopic quantities significantly accelerated research because it transitioned the field from theoretical study to practical experimentation.

Following the initial discovery of buckminsterfullerene (C${}_{60}$) in 1985, researchers were limited by the small amounts produced via laser-supersonic cluster beam apparatus. In 1990, the development of a simple technique using an electric arc between graphite rods allowed scientists to synthesize fullerenes in workable, macroscopic amounts.1

With these larger quantities available, researchers could finally perform comprehensive chemical analyses, leading to the birth of fullerene chemistry. This access enabled the study of the molecule's unique reactivity, such as its ability to accept and donate electrons or form endohedral complexes. Furthermore, it allowed for the discovery of advanced properties, most notably that crystalline compounds of C${}_{60}$ with alkali metals exhibit superconductivity at relatively high temperatures.1