Fullerenes and nanotubes from coal

Graphite has normally been used to synthesise fullerenes and nanotubes. How ever, coal is a cheaper and more suitable industrial material. Because coal is a molecular solid, unlike graphite, the mechanism by which fullerene an d nanotubes are formed is different. Moreover, other products such as polya romatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and microfibres are also formed. In this review , the mechanism of formation of fullerene and nanotubes from coal is discus sed. It is shown that the pathway involved is other than through the C-1 in termediate route. The influence of other elements in coal such as hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur and iron is also discussed. It appears that, hydrogen, oxyg en, iron and sulfur affect the yield and type of fullerenes and nanotubes f ormed.