STRUCTURAL, MICROSTRUCTURAL AND ELECTRONIC CHARACTERISTICS OF QUASICRYSTALLINE CARBON-CONTAINING FULLERENE (C-60) AND GRAPHITIC TUBULE, SOLIDS

The quasicrystalline and recently discovered carbon bearing exotic sol ids- the fullerenes (e.g. C-60) and their tubule relatives Nano-tubule s have a common linkage in the sense that they have built in icosahedr al symmetry either at the level of,lattice - as in QC materials, or mo tif e.g. in fullerene or tubule (caps). It is, therefore, of interest to explore the structural features and properties (e.g. electronic beh aviour) of the solids on a comparative basis. The basic theme of this paper centres around this aspect. We have discussed and described the structural/microstructural characteristics and properties (with emphas is on electronic behaviour) of the QC, C-60 and Nano-tubule. Attempts have then been made to bring out their comparisons for these type of i cosahedron bearing solids.