2007-9-11

Harold W. Kroto,1939-
An English chemist
Professor at Florida State University of USA

In 1996, he, along with Richard E. Smalley and Robert F. Curl, was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for discovery of a new type of the carbon element-Buckminsterfullerene (C^₆₀₎.
As the third stable allotrope of carbon, C₆₀ is a cage-shaped ball composed of 20 hexagons and 12 pentagons, and its geometrical shape is the same as a football, thus also called Football Carbon. The discovery of C₆₀ leads to a tremendous shock wave in the scientific field, and starts a completely new chemical realm, having its influence on physics, chemistry, bio-materials and astronomy, especially on non-linear optics and super-conduction. Nowadays, Buckminsterfullerene represented by C₆₀ is highlighted by scientists all over the world due to its excellent function of "storage" of hydrogen, and will become a brand new carrier for development of hydrogen energy.

Analogue image of C₆₀

Carbon nano tube and Fuller ball