FULLERENES AND FULLERITES - NEW FORMS OF CARBON

Alongside graphite and diamond, fullerites represent a third form of c rystalline carbon. Fullerites are molecular crystals consisting of ful lerenes, i.e. carbon molecules with is closed-cage structures. Of the fullerenes, the soccer-ball shaped Buckminsterfullerene C-60 the most symmetric and most fascinating species. Methods have been developed of producing bulk quantities of C-60 and other fullerenes. Fullerenes an d fullerites are described and some of their properties are presented.