Special Types of Carbon and Graphite

The types of carbon and graphite described in this section have been developed over the last 50 years. Their manufacture is in some cases much more complicated than mass-produced types and as a result their industrial importance is correspondingly low. Their specific properties are, however, so exceptional that a bright future is forecast for special applications. 

New carbon modifications, which consist of discrete polyhedral molecules, have been intensively investigated since the early 1990 s. The structures of these fullerenes range from the highly symmetrical buckminsterfullerenes, C50, to the chiral fullerenes, 7, to larger tubular or carbon particles built up of onionscale-shaped molecules. Possible applications, such as the manufacture of superconducting alkali metal-doped fullerenes or their utilization as a support for catalysts, are being developed, but are not yet market ripe. 

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