Carbon: Fullerenes

Abstract

The discovery of the fullerenes has revolutionalized the chemistry of carbon. For the first time a molecular form of the element carbon is available that can be manipulated and functionalized by the wide range of techniques available to molecular and materials scientists. In a very short space of time the fullerenes and their derivatives have been found to display many fascinating physical and chemical properties, and the astonishing pace of development in fullerene research is ample testimony to their great potential.