The Beautiful Molecule: 30 Years of C60 and Its Derivatives (original) (raw)
2017, ECS Journal of Solid State Science and Technology
In 1996 Sir Harold W. Kroto, Robert F. Curl and Richard E. Smalley were honored with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of fullerenes. The advent of these new forms of carbon heralded a race to understand the physical and chemical properties. C 60 is virtually insoluble in polar solvents but is partially soluble in benzene, toluene, and carbon disulfide. This made the processing of fullerenes for new applications fairly problematic. However, the physical and chemical properties of these cage structures may be tailored for a wide range of applications. Some of the difficulties in processing have been overcome by using novel fullerene derivatives. The functionalization of the fullerene core with different chemical moieties provided a vector toward potential applications in drug delivery, optoelectronics, electrochemistry and organic photovoltaics. In this review, we will take a closer look at the features of some of the fullerene derivatives that have reinvigorated the field of fullerene research. Water-soluble polyhydroxylated fullerenes such as fullerenol have demonstrated the potential for good electron transfer and optical transmission, while hydrophobic fullerene derivatives have shown promising avenues for catalytic applications. 2015 marked the 30 th anniversary of the discovery of fullerenes, with celebrations around the world including an event by the Royal Society of Chemistry, bringing together many of Sir Harold Kroto's former students. The event also coincided with the recent discovery of C 60 + in space after a complex twenty-year search. It is with sadness that we, Harry's Research Group at Florida State University, and his international collaborators, reflect on the passing of Sir Harold Kroto. His dedication to science and commitment to science communication through the VEGA Science Trust and the Global Educational Outreach for Science Engineering and Technology (GEOSET) initiative help to raise awareness of the challenges for science in the modern world. We will continue to inspire young students through outreach activities he initiated.
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Review—The Beautiful Molecule: 30 Years of C60and Its Derivatives
ECS Journal of Solid State Science and Technology, 2017
In 1996 Sir Harold W. Kroto, Robert F. Curl and Richard E. Smalley were honored with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of fullerenes. The advent of these new forms of carbon heralded a race to understand the physical and chemical properties. C 60 is virtually insoluble in polar solvents but is partially soluble in benzene, toluene, and carbon disulfide. This made the processing of fullerenes for new applications fairly problematic. However, the physical and chemical properties of these cage structures may be tailored for a wide range of applications. Some of the difficulties in processing have been overcome by using novel fullerene derivatives. The functionalization of the fullerene core with different chemical moieties provided a vector toward potential applications in drug delivery, optoelectronics, electrochemistry and organic photovoltaics. In this review, we will take a closer look at the features of some of the fullerene derivatives that have reinvigorated the field of fullerene research. Water-soluble polyhydroxylated fullerenes such as fullerenol have demonstrated the potential for good electron transfer and optical transmission, while hydrophobic fullerene derivatives have shown promising avenues for catalytic applications. 2015 marked the 30 th anniversary of the discovery of fullerenes, with celebrations around the world including an event by the Royal Society of Chemistry, bringing together many of Sir Harold Kroto's former students. The event also coincided with the recent discovery of C 60 + in space after a complex twenty-year search. It is with sadness that we, Harry's Research Group at Florida State University, and his international collaborators, reflect on the passing of Sir Harold Kroto. His dedication to science and commitment to science communication through the VEGA Science Trust and the Global Educational Outreach for Science Engineering and Technology (GEOSET) initiative help to raise awareness of the challenges for science in the modern world. We will continue to inspire young students through outreach activities he initiated.
Professor Sir Harry Kroto (1939-2016)
Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences, 2016
One contribution of 12 to a theme issue 'Fullerenes: past, present and future, celebrating the 30th anniversary of Buckminster Fullerene' .
Fullerenes: Chemistry and its Applications
Fullerenes being allotropes of carbon, have been considered as new class of molecules. Unlike diamond and graphite, this is made up of hollow carbon cage structure. The idea of spheroidal cage structures of C 60 arose from construction of geodesic domes made by renowned architect Buck-minster Fuller. Although fullerenes have low solubility in physiological media they finds promising biological applications. The photo, electrochemical and physical properties of C 60 and other fullerene derivatives finds applications in medical fields. The ability of fullerenes to fit inside the hydrophobic cavity of HIV proteases makes them potential inhibitor for substrates to catalytic active site of enzyme. It possesses radical scavenging and antioxidant property. At the same time, when it exposed to light it can form singlet oxygen in high quantum yields which with direct electron transfer from excited state of fullerenes and DNA bases finally results in cleav-age of DNA. The fullerenes are also used as a carrier for gene and drug delivery system. The associated low toxicity of fullerenes is sufficient to attract the researchers for investigation of these interesting molecules.
Structure, properties and applications of fullerenes
This paper reports about fullerenes, its structure, properties and applications. Fullerenes are the third allotropic form of carbon material after graphite and diamond. These were discovered in 1985 by Harold. W. Kroto, Robert F. Curl and Richard E. Smalley. Fullerenes consist of 20 hexagonal and 12 pentagonal rings as the basis of an icosohedral symmetry closed cage structure. Each carbon atom is bonded to three others and is sp 2 hybridized. The C 60 molecule has two bond lengths, the 6:6 ring bonds can be considered "double bonds" and are shorter than the 6:5 bonds. C 60 is not "superaromatic" as it tends to avoid double bonds in the pentagonal rings, resulting in poor electron delocalisation. As a result, C 60 behaves like an electron deficient alkenes and reacts readily with electron rich species. The geodesic and electronic bonding factors in the structure account for the stability of the molecule. Fullerenes can be used as organic photovoltaics(OPV), these are powerful antioxidants, reacting readily and at a high rate with free radicals which are often the cause of cell damage or death. Other uses of C 60 like catalysts, in water purification and biohazard protection, portable power, vehicles and medical.
Exploring Carbon’s Allotropy: A Pupil-Led Synthesis of Fullerenes from Graphite
Journal of Chemical Education, 2015
A successful pupil-led effort to build a fullerene generator and to use it to synthesize C 60 and C 70 is reported, demonstrating that such an activity is feasible in schools. Suggestions are made as to how fullerene synthesis and purification could be used in conventional high school chemistry lessons, particularly in the context of teaching the concept of allotropy, but also to illustrate some of the contrasting properties of simple versus giant covalent structures.
Since their first detection and bulk production, the fullerenes have gained a primary role on the scientific scene, reaching their climax when the 1996 Nobel Prize for Chemistry was awarded to Kroto, Curl and Smalley for their seminal discovery. The unique physical and chemical properties of these new forms of carbon led many scientists to predict several technological applications. This created a heavy disappointment when it was clear that fullerene-based materials would not soon be ready for the market. However, the fullerenes have so far delighted several dozens of researchers who found that C 60 and its relatives undergo a variety of chemical reactions. In most cases, the new derivatives retain the main properties of the original fullerene, and it is now not unlikely that some functionalized fullerenes may find useful applications in the field of materials science and technology. In this Article we summarize the basic principles of the organic chemistry of fullerenes, together with a description of the physicochemical properties that have made these carbon cages popular in materials science, and review the most recent achievements in the functionalization of fullerenes aimed at the production of new molecular materials.
Organic & biomolecular chemistry, 2015
Highly functionalized fullerenes can be efficiently constructed by various techniques. However, the challenge is to synthesize highly symmetrical fullerenes. Recently, a number of X-ray structures have been disclosed showing the high symmetry of substituted fullerenes. By reviewing the major types of multi functionalized fullerenes through selected examples with a link to the structural assignments, the authors intend to give a concise overview to the specialist in the field and to provide the non-specialist with a tool box of possibilities.
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