Structure & Bonding of Carbon (OCR GCSE Chemistry A, Combined (Gateway Science Suite)): Revision Notes
📚 Revision Notes
2.3.3 Graphene & Fullerenes
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Graphene is a single layer of graphite. It has all the properties of graphite but in a very thin sheet—just one atom thick!
Properties of Graphene:
- Conducts Electricity: Like graphite, graphene conducts electricity because of its free-moving electrons.
- Strong and Flexible: Even though it's very thin, graphene is incredibly strong and flexible.
- High Melting and Boiling Points: Graphene also has high melting and boiling points, making it useful in electronics and other advanced materials.
What are Fullerenes?
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Fullerenes are molecules made entirely of carbon, but they're not flat like graphene or layered like graphite. Instead, they form hollow shapes like spheres or tubes.
- Buckminsterfullerene: This is a type of fullerene that looks like a soccer ball and is made up of 60 carbon atoms. It's slippery and has low melting and boiling points because the molecules don't hold onto each other very strongly.
- Nanotubes: These are cylindrical fullerenes (imagine rolling up graphene into a tube). They're strong, stretchy, and can conduct electricity, making them useful in nanotechnology and electronics.
