The Fullerenes
New Horizons for the Chemistry, Physics and Astrophysics of Carbon

This book presents papers from key scientists in the Buckminsterfullerene story.

H. W. Kroto (Edited by), D. R. M. Walton (Edited by)

9780521459174, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 9 September 1993

164 pages
24.7 x 17.4 x 1.7 cm, 0.311 kg

"...a thin yet substantial volume. History and current research and related fields, including even a chapter on architecture, come together in this book." Istvan Hargittal, The Chemical Intelligencer

In 1985, Buckminsterfullerene (fullerene-60) C60 was discovered serendipitously during graphite laser vaporisation experiments designed to simulate the chemistry in a red giant carbon star. The molecule was isolated for the first time in macroscopic amounts in 1990, a breakthrough which triggered an explosion of research into its chemical and physical properties. The fullerenes hold great potential for material science applications, such as semiconductors and microscopic engineering, and as new compounds for pharmaceuticals, polymers and the chemical industry. In October 1992, a Discussion Meeting of the Royal Society entitled A Post-Buckminsterfullerene View of the Chemistry, Physics and Astrophysics of Carbon, organised by H. W. Kroto, A. L. Makay, G. Turner and D. R. M. Walton, was held to celebrate this exciting advance. The scientists who played key roles in the discovery and who are currently uncovering fascinating problems and the implications of this elegant molecule presented the papers published in this book.

1. The evolution of the football structure for the C60 molecule: a retrospective E. Osawa
2. Dreams in a charcoal fire: predictions about giant fullerenes and graphite nanotubes D. E. H. Jones
3. On the formation of the fullerenes R. F. Curl
4. Production and discovery of fullerites: new forms of crystalline carbon W. Kratschmer and D. R. Huffman
5. Systematics of fullerenes and related clusters P. W. Fowler
6. The fullerenes: powerful carbon-based electron acceptors R. C. Haddon
7. The carbon-bearing material in the outflows from luminous carbon-rich stars M. Jura
8. Elemental carbon as interstellar dust C. T. Pillinger
9. The pattern of additions to fullerenes R. Taylor
10. Polyynes and the formation of fullerenes H. W. Kroto and D. R. M. Walton
11. Hypothetical graphite structures with negative gaussian curvature A. L. Mackay and H. Terrones
12. Fullerenes as an example of basic research in industry E. Wasserman
13. Deltahedral views of fullerene polymorphism D. L. D. Caspar
14. Geodesic domes and fullerenes.

Subject Areas: Chemistry [PN]