View source for Chemistry:Fullerene whiskers

[[File:Fullerene whiskers.jpg|thumb|Schematic (top) and electron micrograph (bottom) of C<sub>60</sub> whiskers]]
'''Fullerene whiskers''' are thin rods composed of [[Chemistry:Fullerene|fullerene]] molecules, such as [[Chemistry:Buckminsterfullerene|C<sub>60</sub>]], [[Chemistry:C70 fullerene|C<sub>70</sub>]], or their mixtures. Hollow fullerene whiskers are called '''fullerene tubes'''. Such structures typically have a diameter of a few micrometers. When the diameter becomes smaller than 1 micron, the corresponding structures are called '''fullerene nanowhiskers''' or '''fullerene nanotubes'''.<ref name=ftubes/> 

Fullerene whiskers and tubes are held together by weak [[Physics:Van der Waals force|van der Waals force]]s, and hence are very soft.<ref name=ftubes/> They can be grown by precipitation at an interface between two liquids. They are [[Physics:Semiconductor|semiconductor]]s and have potential uses in [[Engineering:Field-effect transistor|field-effect transistor]]s, [[Physics:Solar cell|solar cell]]s, chemical sensors, and photocatalysts. When doped with [[Chemistry:Alkali metal|alkali metal]]s, such as [[Chemistry:Potassium|potassium]], they become [[Physics:Superconductor|superconductor]]s at {{convert|18|K}}.<ref name=fwhiskers/> 

As-grown fullerene nanotubes have hexagonal shapes and face-centered cubic crystal structures. Owing to their relatively large inner diameters (approx. 100 nm) and low reactivity they can accommodate a wide range of [[Physics:Nanoparticle|nanoparticle]]s. C<sub>60</sub> nanotubes decompose upon heating to {{convert|416|C}} in air.<ref name=ftubes/> 

==References==
{{Reflist|refs 
<ref name=fwhiskers>{{cite journal|pmc=5036494|year=2015|last1=Miyazawa|first1=K.|title=Synthesis of fullerene nanowhiskers using the liquid–liquid interfacial precipitation method and their mechanical, electrical and superconducting properties|journal=Science and Technology of Advanced Materials|volume=16|issue=1|pages=013502|pmid=27877738|doi=10.1088/1468-6996/16/1/013502|bibcode=2015STAdM..16a3502M}}</ref>
<ref name=ftubes>{{cite book|doi=10.1007/978-3-642-03622-4_15|chapter=Synthesis and Functions of Fullerene Nanotubes|title=Inorganic and Metallic Nanotubular Materials|volume=117|pages=201–214|series=Topics in Applied Physics|year=2010|last1=Miyazawa|first1=K.|isbn=978-3-642-03620-0}}</ref>
}}

{{fibers}}
{{Allotropes of carbon}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fullerene whiskers}}
[[Category:Allotropes of carbon]]
[[Category:Synthetic fibers]]
[[Category:Fullerenes]]

{{Sourceattribution|Fullerene whiskers}}