4.6 Graphene & Fullerenes Flashcards
Graphene (4)
- Graphene is a single sheet of graphite.
- The carbon atoms are arranged in hexagons, and each atom forms three covalent bonds.
- Graphene’s a bit of a wonder material - its covalent bonds make it extremely strong and a sheet of graphene is so thin that it’s transparent and incredibly light.
- Its delocalised electrons are completely free to move about, which makes it even better at conducting electricity and thermal energy than graphite
Why is graphene so good at conducting electricity and thermal energy?
Each of the atoms donates one of it’s electrons to a delocalised pool of electrons
Where can graphene be found?
In the ground in the form of graphite
What can fullerenes (spheres) be used for? (2)
- Scientists are able to form the spheres around other molecules, such as drugs, so that it acts like a cage and can deliver the drugs all around the body.
- As fullerenes have a large surface area : volume ratio, they could be used to make industrial catalysts, which are used to speed up chemical reactions.
What can fullerenes (tubes) be used for? (2)
- ‘Nanotubes’ can be used in ‘nanotechnology’ and in electronics, due to their ability to conduct electricity.
- They can be used to strengthen other materials, like tennis racket frames. This is because of their very high length : diameter ratio (they are very long and thin), so they can add strength without adding much weight.
Graphene can be found naturally within graphite. The sheets can be folded into two types of 3D structure: tubes and spheres, which are known as __________.
fullerenes
What is the formula of the first spherical fullerene produced, known as the Buckminster fullerene?
C60
Which feature of carbon nanotubes makes them useful in tennis racket frames?
Their high strength to weight ratio