Background of Buckyballs

In 1985 Professors Richard E. Smalley and Robert F. Curl, Jr. of Rice University and Professor Harold Kroto of the University of Sussex in Brighton, England collaborated to study carbon clusters. Emerging from their series of experiments, however, was not what they had anticipated. A C60 molecule, resembling the shape of a soccer ball, dominated the results. Since the molecule also resembled the geodesic dome shape invented by architect Buckminster Fuller, it acquired the nicknames Buckminster Fullerene and Bucky Ball (Figure 1). "

Scientists also discovered a chain of molecules similar to that of C60. These molecules which are known as "fullerenes" include C28, C70, C84, and C280. Each fullerene exemplifies unique physical properties that can be utilized to advance understanding of long-chain molecules and to revolutionize nanotechnology.