INVENTIVE MATERIALS

C 60 carbon, otherwise known as a buckyball, is named after Buckminster Fuller, the architect who pioneered the geodesic dome, like those seen at the Eden Project. Geodesic domes and buckyballs are both known for their strength. When buckyballs are compressed to 70 per cent of their original size, they become twice as hard as diamond. Credit: Tom Chris Guise/Flickr, CC BY-NC Buckyballs

Carbon nanotubes have an array of fascinating electronic, magnetic and mechanical properties. They are at least 100 times stronger than steel, but only one-sixth as heavy – so nanotube fibres could strengthen just about any material. Credit: EMSL/Flickr CC BY-NC BIGPICTUREEDUCATION.COM Carbon nanotubes

Nanoparticles can be metallic, mineral, polymer-based or a combination of materials. They can also be of natural or synthetic origin. Catalysts, drug delivery mechanisms, dyes and sunscreens are just some of the uses of nanoparticles. Credit: Annie Cavanagh, Wellcome Images, CC BY BIGPICTUREEDUCATION.COM Nanoparticles

Nanowires are extremely narrow threads (less than 50 nm wide), which have the potential to be used in nanoscale electrical devices. The vision is of electronic chips so small and cheap they could be used in almost any way. Credit: Oak Ridge National Laboratory/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND BIGPICTUREEDUCATION.COM Nanowires

Self-assembly is widespread in nature, for example when blood clots. Many very clever routes are taking advantage of self-assembly. This includes use of chemical monomers that naturally polymerise, creating a polymer mesh with properties that be modified by tweaking the original monomer. Credit: David Gregory & Debbie Marshall, Wellcome Images, CC BY BIGPICTUREEDUCATION.COM Self-assembled nanostructures

Graphite is made up of layers of carbon atoms arranged into hexagons. Graphene is the name given to a single isolated layer of graphite, one carbon atom thick. It can carry electricity at a high speed and conduct heat, and it’s also extremely strong (ten times stronger than steel) and completely impermeable. Credit: CORE-Materials/Flickr, CC BY BIGPICTUREEDUCATION.COM Graphene

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