C2: GRAPHENE, FULLERENE AND NANOPARTICLES

Question 1

What is graphene?

Answer 1

a single layer of graphite

Question 2

Properties of graphene

Answer 2

-strong (network of covalent bonds)
-light (can be added to composite materials to improve their strength without adding much weight)
-conducts electricity (delocalised electrons can carry a charge through the structure) (useful in electronics)

Question 3

What are fullerenes?

Answer 3

molecules of carbon that form spheres/tubes

Question 4

What was the first fullerene to be discovered?

Answer 4

-buckminsiter fullerene C60 (forms a sphere)

Question 5

What are the uses of fullerenes and why can they be used in that way?

Answer 5

-can be used to deliver a drug (hollow, can form around a drug which is then trapped inside)
-can be used as industrial catalysts (large surface area, individual catalyst molecules can be attached to the fullerene)

Question 6

Properties of carbon nanotubes?

Answer 6

-high length to diameter ratio
-conduct electricity and thermal energy
-high tensile strength

Question 7

What are the uses of nanotubes?

Answer 7

-nanotechnology
-can be used in electronics
-can be used to strengthen materials without adding much weight

Question 8

How big are nanoparticles?

Answer 8

nanoparticles have a diameter between 1nm (1x10^-9m) and 100nm ((1x10^-7)

Question 9

Describe the surface area to volume ratio of nanoparticles?

Answer 9

nanoparticles have a high surface area to volume ratio

Question 10

What are the uses of nanoparticles?

Answer 10

-could make new catalysts (high sa:volume ratio)
-could be used to deliver drugs to cells where they’re needed (tiny particles, more easily absorbed by the body)
-electronics (can be added to polymer fibres and be used to make surgical masks and wound dressings (silver nanoparticles have antibacterial properties)
-used in cosmetics