GCSE Chemistry revision

Graphene and fullerenes

Structure and bonding of carbon

AQA 4.2.3.3 Foundation & Higher

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Allotropes are different structural forms of the same element in the same physical state, so graphene and fullerenes are simply different solid forms of carbon.
Graphite, which can be found naturally in the ground, is made up of many stacked layers, and each individual layer is called graphene.

1. What Are Allotropes of Carbon? AQA

Allotropes are different structural forms of the same element in the same physical state, so graphene and fullerenes are simply different solid forms of carbon.
Graphite, which can be found naturally in the ground, is made up of many stacked layers, and each individual layer is called graphene.

Graphene consists of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in repeating hexagons, with each carbon atom bonded to three others.
Each carbon atom donates one electron to a delocalised pool, allowing graphene to conduct electricity.
The strong covalent bonds within the hexagonal structure make graphene an exceptionally strong material.

2. Structure of Graphene AQA

Graphene consists of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in repeating hexagons, with each carbon atom bonded to three others.
Each carbon atom donates one electron to a delocalised pool, allowing graphene to conduct electricity.
The strong covalent bonds within the hexagonal structure make graphene an exceptionally strong material.

Fullerenes are tiny carbon structures, including spheres and tubes, formed when graphenelike sheets incorporate pentagons or heptagons, causing the sheet to curve.
The first fullerene discovered was Buckminster Fullerene, a hollow sphere of 60 carbon atoms with the molecular formula C₆₀.
Carbon nanotubes are cylindrical fullerenes with a very high length to diameter ratio, meaning they are extremely long and thin relative to their width.

3. What Are Fullerenes? AQA

Fullerenes are tiny carbon structures, including spheres and tubes, formed when graphenelike sheets incorporate pentagons or heptagons, causing the sheet to curve.
The first fullerene discovered was Buckminster Fullerene, a hollow sphere of 60 carbon atoms with the molecular formula C₆₀.
Carbon nanotubes are cylindrical fullerenes with a very high length to diameter ratio, meaning they are extremely long and thin relative to their width.

Fullerene spheres can encage drug molecules, acting like a hollow cage to deliver drugs to specific areas of the body in targeted medicine.
Because fullerenes are extremely small, they have a large surface area to volume ratio, making them effective as industrial catalysts to speed up the rate of chemical reactions.

4. Uses of Fullerene Spheres AQA

Fullerene spheres can encage drug molecules, acting like a hollow cage to deliver drugs to specific areas of the body in targeted medicine.
Because fullerenes are extremely small, they have a large surface area to volume ratio, making them effective as industrial catalysts to speed up the rate of chemical reactions.

Carbon nanotubes can conduct electricity, making them valuable in electronics and nanotechnology applications.
Their very high length to diameter ratio allows nanotubes to reinforce materials, such as tennis racket frames, adding significant strength without adding much weight.

Nanotechnology is the field that uses tiny structures, such as fullerenes and nanotubes, to develop new materials and devices.
Nanotechnology is applied across a wide range of industries, including medicine, batteries, food, and fashion.

Graphene and fullerenes both conduct electricity due to the presence of delocalised electrons.
The large surface area to volume ratio of fullerenes and nanotubes is a key property that makes them useful in catalysis and drug delivery.
The exceptional strength of carbon nanotubes comes from the strong covalent bonds within their hexagonal carbon network.

7. Summary / Key Terms AQA

Graphene and fullerenes both conduct electricity due to the presence of delocalised electrons.
The large surface area to volume ratio of fullerenes and nanotubes is a key property that makes them useful in catalysis and drug delivery.
The exceptional strength of carbon nanotubes comes from the strong covalent bonds within their hexagonal carbon network.