graphene & fullerenes

• Graphene is just a single layer of graphite, which consists of carbon atoms arranged into flat hexagons. 

  Each carbon has one delocalised electron, so graphene can conduct electricity.
• Graphene can be found naturally within graphite.

  The sheets can be folded into two types of 3D structure: tubes and spheres, which are known as fullerenes.
• Fullerenes are allotropes of carbon, made by bending sheets of graphene into hollow structures.

  Nanotubes made from these are useful in electronics. This is because each carbon atom has one delocalised electron which can carry charge.
• two applications of fullerenes in industry

  1. catalyst in chemical reactions
  2. delivery of medicines around the body
• fullerenes are useful catalyst in chemical industry because they have high surface area to volume ratio
• what is the formula for buckminster fullerene?

  C60
• carbon nanotubes make them useful for tennis racket frames because they have high strength to weight ratio.