The three allotropes of carbon are… Buckminsterfullerine Diamond Graphite Diamond is the hardest known natural mineral. It’s hardness and high dispersion of light make it useful for industrial uses and jewellery. Graphite is an electrical conductor and is also used in pencils. Graphite is the most stable form of carbon and is used in thermochemistry. Fullerenes are molecules of varying sizes, composed entirely of carbon, which take the form of a hollow sphere, ellipsoid or tube.

Buckminsterfullerine was discovered in 1985 by a team of scientists from Rice University and the University. It was dicovered by the group of scientists involving a cluster beam which uses a laer to vaporise a graphic rod in a helium atmosphere. The research was aimed at characterising unidentified interstellar matter. The stucture of Buckminsterfullerene is special because it has a very spherical shape like a football, and is hollow.

Buckminsterfullerenes are used for… Optical devices Hardening agents for carbides Chemical Sensors Gas separation devices Thermal Insulation Diamonds Batteries Catalysts Medical Applications