Allotropes of Carbon
Allotropes are DIFFERENT STRUCTURAL forms of the SAME ELEMENT in the same physical state.
Graphene and Fullerenes are examples of different allotropes of Carbon:
Graphene
- Graphene ia a SINGLE LAYER of graphite, and is strong and light.
- It is a good CONDUCTOR of HEAT and ELECTRICITY due to its DELOCALISED ELECTRONS, so is used in ELECTRONICS and composite materials.
Fullerenes
- FULLERENES are molecules with hollow shapes, such as spheres or tubes.
- The structure of fullerenes is based on hexagonal rings of Carbon atoms but they may also contain rings with five or seven Carbon atoms.
- They can ENCAPSULATE other molecules and are used in drug delivery and as INDUSTRIAL CATALYSTS.
- BUCKMINSTERFULLERENE, is a SPHERICAL FULLERENE with a formula of C60.
- Carbon nanotubes are CYLINDRICAL fullerenes with very HIGH length to diameter ratios.
- Their properties make them useful for nanotechnology, electronics and materials.
- They are good CONDUCTORS of HEAT and ELECTRICITY as they have DELOCALISED ELECTRONS, meaning they can be used in ELECTRONICS and nanotechnology.
- They have a very high TENSILE STRENGTH without much MASS meaning they are useful for certain materials, such as the ones used in TENNIS RACKETS.