Nanoscience _ OCR Combined A

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Fullerenes

Fullerenes: A group of allotropes of carbon, made up of balls, 'cages' or tubes of carbon atoms

This is a type of fullerene known as a Buckminsterfullerene or 'buckyball'. They can be made with 60, 70,76 or 80 carbon atoms.

Because they have a closed structure, they can be used to entrap other molecules.

This can be useful for:

Carrying drugs for delivery to specific sites in the body

In cosmetics, where they can absorb harmful radicals

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Carbon Nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes are another type of fullerene.

Molecular-scale tubes of graphite-like carbon.

Among the stiffest and strongest fibres known - due to covalently bonded carbon hexagonal rings

Excellent conductivity - due to free electrons

Current uses:

Atomic force microscopes

Bone-tissue scaffolding

Cancer treatment

To make bulk materials for use in bicycle components and boat hulls

To make bulk materials for use in epoxy-resins for bonding high performance components in wind-turbines and sports equipment

Proposed further uses:

Connections inside miniature electronic circuits

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Graphene

Graphene: One layer of the graphite molecule, i.e. a single layer of carbon atoms covalently bonded in a hexagonal honeycomb lattice

Graphene has many extraordinary properties:

Thinnest material known to man - one atom thick

Lighest material known

Strongest material discovered- stronger than steel

Best conductor of heat at room temperature

Best conductor of electricity

Potential uses:

Thin - could be incorporated into printing inks, allowing circuits to be printed onto paper

Very unreactive - could be incorporated into metal paints to stop them rusting

Strong - could be used to replace Kevlar in bulletproof vests