Application
Fullerenes it is the third after black lead and diamond the form of pure carbon. The molecule of the fullerene Ñ60, is the spherical polyhedron made of 20 hexagons and 12 pentagons, with atoms of carbon in each of it 60 tops. There is the only one way of their creation is an artificial synthesis.
Fullerenes are divided into 2 groups-light fullerenes which are Ñ60 and Ñ70, and Heavy (high) fullerenes - the other fullerenes, the number of atoms in which are more than 70. The unique structure of the fullerenes making their properties.
In connection with other substances they allow to receive materials with essentially new properties.
Applied application of the fullerenes
- 1. A material for the semi-conductor technics. There is a perspective of using the molecule of the fullerene as an independent nanosised device, in particular as an intensifying element.
- 2. Fullerene as the photoresistor. Under the influence of visible ultra-violet and more short-wave radiation fullerenes polymerization and in such state they do not dissolve by organic solvents.
- 3. Superconductivity. Doping solid Ñ60 with the small amount of the alkali metal formate the material with metal conductivity which at low temperature turn into a superconductor.
- 4. Among other interesting offers it is necessary to note the accumulators and electric batteries in which additives of the fullerenes, anyhow, are used. A basis of these accumulators are the lithium cathodes containing intercalated fullerenes.
- à) Fullerenes also can be used as additives for production of an artificial diamonds.
- á) Fullerenes can be used in pharmaceutics for creation of new medicines.
Production method
Burning of graphitized electrodes in an electric arch in helium atmosphere at low pressure. For today it is the most high capacity method in comparison with other methods of synthesis. A yield is approximately 10-20 % from a lump of the burnt black lead.
- 1) Fullerenes which are in carbon being extracted to the solution with the organic solvent for example with the toluene, xylene ,etc. Then this mix goes through the filtration, and the rest of solution evaporates, and get a deposit consisting of a mix of the fullerenes named fullerite. In composition of the fullerites comes various crystal formations Ñ60, Ñ70+ comes a small amount of the highest fullerenes (to 3 %)
- 2) Separation of the mix of the fullerenes into individual molecular fractions is produced with the help of a chromatographic column.
- 3) Last stage. Removal of the rests of solvent from the solid sample of the fullerene. It is implemented by ageing of the sample at the temperature 150-250 C. With in the conditions of dynamic vacuum.
Identification of the received products
- To analyses the quality of the production and its identification there are a number of methods of the analytical analyses.
Selection of articles about fullerens and nanotechnologies
More info you can find there:
Fullerene Applications
The Discovery and Applications of Fullerenes
Fullerenes use for cosmetics manufacturing
Biological Applications of Fullerene Derivatives: A Brief Overview
