buckyballs
Hollow carbon molecules
Buckyballs are spherical molecules made entirely of carbon atoms arranged in a pattern of hexagons and pentagons, resembling a soccer ball.
The most common form contains sixty carbon atoms.
Named after architect Buckminster Fuller, whose geodesic domes share the same structure.
Also called buckminsterfullerene or fullerene.
Researchers discovered that buckyballs conduct electricity under certain conditions.
Globe-like in form
- hexagonsSix-sided closed figures
- pentagonsFive-sided closed figures
- polyhedronMulti-faced geometric solid
- geodesicShortest curved-surface path
Sixty-carbon spherical molecule
- carbonSixth element, atomic symbol C
- sp2 hybridizationThree equivalent orbital mixing
- aromaticityCyclic pi-electron stabilization
- solubilityDissolving potential in liquid
sublimation · mass spectrometry · organic · synthesis · reactivity · stability · crystalline · electrochemistry
Matter at billionth-meter scale
- nanoscaleBillionth-meter dimension
- nanoparticleSubmicroscopic material fragment
- nanotubesHollow molecular cylinders
- grapheneMonolayer carbon hexagonal lattice
nanomedicine · nanoelectronics · drug delivery · self-assembly · nanofabrication · biocompatibility · doping · encapsulation
Specific calendar year
- Nobel PrizeHighest academic honor
- serendipityAccidental fortunate discovery
- ExxonAmerican oil conglomerate
- SussexHistoric English coastal county
Attracting iron or attention
- neodymiumRare-earth metallic element
- desk toySmall office plaything
- sculpturesCarved or molded artworks
- spheresRound solids, all points equidistant
building · puzzle · banned · recall · stress relief · fidget · collectible
spherical
Globe-like in form
- hexagonsSix-sided closed figures
- pentagonsFive-sided closed figures
- polyhedronMulti-faced geometric solid
geodesic · symmetry · hollow · facets · vertices · edges · geometric
buckminsterfullerene
Sixty-carbon spherical molecule
- carbonSixth element, atomic symbol C
- sp2 hybridizationThree equivalent orbital mixing
- aromaticityCyclic pi-electron stabilization
solubility · sublimation · mass spectrometry · organic · synthesis · reactivity · stability · crystalline · electrochemistry · reduction
nanomaterial
Matter at billionth-meter scale
- nanoscaleBillionth-meter dimension
- nanoparticleSubmicroscopic material fragment
- nanotubesHollow molecular cylinders
graphene · nanomedicine · nanoelectronics · drug delivery · self-assembly · nanofabrication · biocompatibility · doping · encapsulation · nanosensors
1985
Specific calendar year
- Nobel PrizeHighest academic honor
- serendipityAccidental fortunate discovery
- ExxonAmerican oil conglomerate
magnetic
Attracting iron or attention
- neodymiumRare-earth metallic element
- desk toySmall office plaything
- sculpturesCarved or molded artworks
spheres · building · puzzle · banned · recall · stress relief · fidget · collectible
- carbon formsgraphite, diamond, diamonds, fullerene, graphene
- nanotechnologynanoparticles, carbon nanotube, nanobots, carbon nanotubes, nanorobots
- advanced materialsgraphene, carbon nanotubes, Kevlar, superalloys, titanium alloy
- nanoclustersiron-sulfur clusters, magic numbers
- nanophysicsquantum dots, nanowires, nanotubes, nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes
- nanomedicinenanomedicine, nanoparticles, liposomes, mRNA vaccines, Moderna vaccine
buckyballsgraphene
Monolayer carbon hexagonal lattice
diamond · graphite · carbon nanotubes · lonsdaleite · carbon black
buckyballsdiamond
Crystallized carbon gemstone
graphite · coal · carbon black · lonsdaleite