Graphene and fullerenes
Graphene
Graphene is another form of the A substance made of one type of atom only. carbon. Its structure resembles a single layer of A form of pure carbon in which all the atoms are bonded to three others in giant sheets which can slide over each other.. Graphene has a very high The temperature at which a solid changes into a liquid as it is heated. and is very strong because of its large regular arrangement of carbon The smallest part of an element that can exist. joined by A bond between atoms formed when atoms share electrons to achieve a full outer shell of electrons.. Like graphite, graphene To allow electricity, heat or other energy forms to pass through. electricity well because it has Electrons that are not associated with a particular atom, eg in a metal, outer electrons can be free to move through the solid. Subatomic particle, with a negative charge and a negligible mass relative to protons and neutrons. that are free to move through its structure.
Dr Mark Miodownik talks to Professor Andre Geim at the University of Manchester about his work on graphene
Fullerenes
Fullerenes are forms of carbon, and include Long cylindrical molecules made from carbon atoms joined together by covalent bonds. and Molecules comprising carbon atoms joined together to form spherical or nearly spherical hollow structures..
Nanotubes
A nanotube resembles a layer of graphene, rolled into a tube shape. Nanotubes have high The tension a material can withstand without breaking., so they are strong in Pulling force exerted by each end of an object such as a string or rope. and resist being stretched. Like graphene, nanotubes are strong, and they conduct electricity because they have delocalised electrons.
Buckyballs
Buckyballs are spheres or squashed spheres of carbon atoms. They are made up of large molecules but do not have a giant covalent structure. Weak Weak attractive forces between molecules. When a simple molecular substance melts or boils, it is the intermolecular forces that are broken (not the covalent bonds in each molecule). exist between individual buckyballs. Little The capacity of a system to do work or the quantity required for mechanical work to take place. Measured in joules (J). For example, a man transfers 100 J of energy when moving a wheelbarrow. is needed to overcome these forces, so substances consisting of buckyballs are slippery and have lower The temperature at which a solid changes into a liquid as it is heated. than graphite or A form (allotrope) of pure carbon in which all the atoms are bonded to four others in a giant tetrahedral network structure which is very strong. Diamond is the hardest known natural substance, has a very high melting point and does not conduct electricity..