The Fullerenes: New Horizons for the Chemistry, Physics and Astrophysics of Carbon - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521459176 ISBN 13: 9780521459174

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1993

Synopsis

The study of carbon has been revolutionized since the discovery of the soccerball shaped C60 molecule Buckminsterfullerene. This book examines the modern study of the chemistry, physics and astrophysics of carbon, through contributions from leading workers in the subject. It includes a history of the origins of a soccerball structure for the C60 molecule and a section on its discovery and production. It then looks at the theory and the astrophysics and chemistry of the material. These contributions result from a meeting held at the Royal Society in October 1992. The contributions formerly appeared in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.

About this title

Book Description:

The study of carbon has been revolutionized since the discovery of the soccer-ball-shaped Buckminsterfullerene molecule. This book examines the modern study of the chemistry, physics and astrophysics of carbon through contributions from leading workers.

From the Back Cover:

In 1985, Buckminsterfullerene (fullerene-60) C(subscript 60) was discovered serendipitously during graphite laser vaporization experiments designed to simulate the chemistry in a red giant carbon star. The molecule was isolated for the first time in macroscopic amounts in 1990, a breakthrough which triggered an explosion of research into its chemical and physical properties. The fullerenes hold great potential for material science applications, such as semiconductors and microscopic engineering, and as new compounds for pharmaceuticals, polymers and the chemical industry. Buckminsterfullerene possesses a beauty and elegance that has excited the imaginations of laymen and scientists alike. It seems almost impossible to comprehend how the existence of the third well-characterized allotrope of carbon could have evaded discovery until virtually the end of the twentieth century. In October 1992 a Discussion Meeting of the Royal Society entitled 'A Post-Buckminsterfullerene View of the Chemistry, Physics and Astrophysics of Carbon' organized by H. W. Kroto, A. L. MacKay, G. Turner and D. R. M. Walton, was held to celebrate this exciting advance. The scientists who played key roles in the discovery and who are currently uncovering fascinating problems and the implications of this elegant molecule, presented the papers published in this book.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 0521459176
• ISBN 13: 9780521459174
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 164
• Editor: Kroto H. W., Walton D. R. M.