Nano-allotropes

The emerging field of nanotechnology is affirming its increasing importance day by day. In this context fullerenes and carbon nano tubes (CNTs) play an important role. These new allotropic forms of carbon have been discovered in the last two decades, and, since then, they have stimulated the curiosity and interest of physicists and chemists. 

Fullernes form a group of carbon allotropes. There are spherical fullerenes nicknamed buckyballs and cylindrical fullerenes known as buckytubes or nanotubes. Fullerenes have yet to display all of their capabilities to scientists. One of the most promising areas of fullerene research involves the creation of nanotubes. Nanotubes are sheets of carbon that are rolled up into cylinders. These cylinders are strong—due to the hexagonal structure of the carbon atoms—and have unique conducting properties. Fullerene nano-technology on the horizon includes the development of faster computer chips, smaller electronic components, and more advanced space-exploration vehicles. 

Diamond De (Fig. 11.1), the classical, beautiful and useful diamond has kept its leading interest among the carbon allotropes, even as the newer nano varieties. Along with electronic properties, the mechanical characteristics appear of great... 

In Chemistry, Carbon marks the unique four allotropic forms as the simple substance, diamond, graphite, and fullerene, each of these opening entire scientific chapters, plethora of nano-stmctures and every-day life applications ... 

Carbon is the atom of the periodic table that forms the greatest number of compounds. Pure carbon may also form large molecules and crystallize into a number of allotropic forms, such as 35, C o, and C70 from the large fullerene family, nano tubes (a tube-like form of a fullerene), graphite, and diamond. These substances have widely different conductivity properties. 

Very interesting supramolecular structures are known as carbon peapods, and consist of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) filled with fullerenes. After their first detection via high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) as a side product in the production of carbon nanotubes, different methodologies have been developed to produce such new carbon allotropes. The harsh conditions previously used (such as high temperatures, low pressures, and acidic medias) have been later overcome by mild condition experiments that exploited not completely understood mechanisms of nano-condensation and nanoextraction. ... 

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