Remarkable diversity of carbon–carbon bonds: structures and properties of fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, and graphene

Abstract

Large scientific community has been passionate in understanding different carbon nanostructures for last two decades. In this review, we present the general description of low-dimensional carbon allotropes such as fullerenes (0D), carbon nanotubes (1D), and graphene (2D). These structures have unique diversity of carbon-carbon bonds. Structures and electronic properties of fullerenes, small closed carbon cages, and giant fullerenes are illustrated. We point out the complexity in the area of fullerene research because of a wide range of structures and number of possible isomers of fullerenes. The concept of isolated pentagon rule in fullerenes is highlighted. We delineate the usefulness of pyramidalization angle in evaluating the curvature of fullerenes. The role of computational chemistry in identifying different isomers of fullerenes and validating the experimental results in ambiguous situations is also briefly mentioned. Properties of different types of carbon nanotubes, particularly singlewalled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and their structural features are summarized. The use of pyramidalization angle (h P ) and p-orbital misalignment angles in predicting the reactivity of different carbon atom sites of SWCNTs is discussed. Finally, we outline the structures and electronic properties of graphene, and discuss the status of experimental investigations of this species.

Improved Spectrophotometric Analysis of Fullerenes C60 and C70 in High-solubility Organic Solvents

“…1,2 Carbon-based materials with cagelike (fullerenes), cylindrical (carbon nanotubes) and sheet (graphene) structures can be synthesised by a wide range of methods, although the mechanisms of formation are not all fully understood. They exhibit a variety of unique and tunable optical, electronic, mechanical, structural, thermal and chemical properties, offering the prospect of applications in photovoltaics, nanoelectronics, medicine, sensors, display technology, nanocomposites, simulated photosynthesis, batteries and supercapacitors.…”

Nano-Doped Monolithic Materials for Molecular Separation

“…Carbon-based nanostructures may exist in diverse forms including carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, endohedral fullerenes, nanohorns, nanobuds, nanotori, nano-onions, graphene, and cup-stacked nanotubes [74]. Amongst the aforementioned carbon nanostructures, fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, and graphene, are the most researched [75,76], and have been the main driving force in advancing nanotechnological applications [74,77].…”

Aromaticity under star dust conditions

“…The feature described above seems to contradict natural evidence, because the burning of several materials containing carbon forms graphite as its main product (although it is important to take into account that the two dimensional graphite, also known as graphene is a very elusive material [9][10][11]), whereas fullerenes are normally produced by the vaporization of this same graphite by arc discharge under low pressure in an inert gaseous atmosphere [12,13]. This would indicate that a more sophisticated procedure may occur in the proximity of certain stars, where there are interstellar emission bands which indicate high temperatures.…”