fullerene

Form of carbon, discovered in 1985, based on closed cages of carbon atoms. The molecules of the most symmetrical of the fullerenes are called buckminsterfullerenes (or buckyballs). They are perfect spheres made up of 60 carbon atoms linked together in 12 pentagons and 20 hexagons fitted together like those of a spherical football. Other fullerenes with 28, 32, 50, 70, and 76 carbon atoms, have also been identified.

Fullerenes can be made by arcing electricity between carbon rods. They may also occur in candle flames and in clouds of interstellar gas. Fullerene chemistry may turn out to be as important as organic chemistry based on the benzene ring. Already, new molecules based on the buckyball enclosing a metal atomhave been made.

‘Buckytubes’ is a colloquial term for carbon nanotubes (cylinders of carbon atoms arranged in hexagons), which are typically capped by half a fullerene at each end. They were proved to be 200 times tougher than any other known fibre by Israeli and US materials scientists in 1998. Applications envisaged include using the new molecules as lubricants, semiconductors, and superconductors, and as the starting point for making new drugs.