Fullerenes
- Fullerenes consist of carbon atoms and form caged structures
- The first fullerene to be discovered was buckminsterfullerene which is referred to as a “buckyball”
- In this fullerene, 60 carbon atoms are joined together forming 20 hexagons and 12 pentagons which produce a hollow sphere that is the exact shape of a soccer ball
- The formula of buckminsterfullerene is C60
Diagram to show the structure of buckminsterfullerene
It consists of 60 carbon atoms in a spherical shape
- Fullerenes can be used to trap other molecules by forming around the target molecule and capturing it, making them useful for targeted drug delivery systems
- They also have a huge surface area and are useful for trapping catalyst molecules onto their surfaces making them easily accessible to reactants so catalysis can take place
- Some fullerenes are excellent lubricants due to the weak intermolecular forces between each fullerene
Examiner Tip
Make sure you link the correct property to the correct use.
E.g. If you are asked why fullerenes are used in drug delivery it is because they have a hollow shape.
