Graphene & Fullerene

Chemistry: Cambridge International A Level, topic 1.4.9

Graphene

Graphene is an allotrope (form) of carbon. It has the following properties:

Conducts electricity

Each carbon atom has a delocalised electron.
Graphene is a single layer of graphite so it also conducts electricity because of the carbon atoms’ delocalised electrons.

Light but strong

Graphene is 1 atom (1 layer) thick.
This means that it is almost a 2-dimensional structure. This makes graphene very light.
However, the strong covalent bonds between carbon atoms mean that it is also very strong.

Uses

Graphene has lots of uses in electronics and composite materials (materials that have things added to make them more useful).
It increases a material’s strength without adding much weight.
It can be used in solar panels, batteries and much more.

Fullerenes

Fullerenes are molecules of carbon atoms that have hollow shapes. Their structure is mainly based on hexagonal (6-sided) rings of carbon atoms, but can also contain pentagonal (5-sided) and heptagonal (7-sided) rings.

Spherical fullerenes - buckminsterfullerene

The 1^st fullerene to be discovered - buckminsterfullerene - is spherical.
It has the formula C₆₀.
It is technically a simple molecule because of its fixed size.

Spherical fullerenes - uses

Generally speaking, spherical fullerenes come in a wide range of sizes, and their common uses include:
Catalysts.
Lubricants.
Delivering drugs into the body.

Cylindrical fullerenes - shape

Carbon nanotubes are cylindrical fullerenes.
They are often called molecular wires because they have a tiny diameter but can be incredibly long.

Cylindrical fullerenes - strength

Because of the strong covalent bonds between carbon atoms, nanotubes are exceptionally strong for their size.

Cylindrical fullerenes - uses

The strength and electrical conductivity of nanotubes make them useful:
In electronics.
In nanotechnology.
For strengthening materials (e.g. tennis racket frames).

Test yourself on Graphene & Fullerene

Which of graphene and graphite is an electrical conductor?
Which is a harder compound?
Which explains why graphene is used in composite materials?
Why is graphene very light?
Name the carbon ring shapes found in fullerene structures

Practise this topic for free