Fullerene family

Fullerenes are a family of carbon-based molecules characterized by their unique, hollow, cage-like structures resembling spheres, ellipsoids, or tubes. The most famous example is buckminsterfullerene (C60), which looks like a soccer ball made of 60 carbon atoms arranged in a pattern of pentagons and hexagons. These molecules are remarkably stable and possess interesting electrical, chemical, and physical properties. Fullerenes are used in areas like nanotechnology, materials science, and medicine, including drug delivery systems and electronic components. Their versatile structure and functionality make them a significant focus of scientific research in advanced materials.