Crossed Supersonic Molecular Beam Studies of the Reaction Dynamics of Fullerness

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In this project in the Physical Chemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, Prof. W.M. Jackson of the University of California at Davis will perform a series of investigations on the reaction dynamics of two fullerene compounds composed of 60 and 70 carbon atoms each, reacting with molecules belonging to families known as free radicals, and those characterized by weak bonds, large electron affinities, and low ionization potentials. The experiments are to be done with a newly constructed molecular beam machine built expressly for the purpose of these studies. %%% Fullerenes comprise a recently discovered class of chemical compounds of carbon atoms in which the locations of these atoms originally defined a nearly spherically shaped geodesic surface. The appellation "fullerene" is used in recognition of Buckminster Fuller whose architectural researches on geodesic domes popularized such structures. A fullerene composed of 60 carbon atoms has the atoms located at the corners of pentagons and hexagons, these regular polygons forming a closed surface just like that of a soccer ball. Such a cluster of atoms is therefore also popularly referred to as a "Buckyball". The generic term fullerene is now commonly applied to refer to such atomic clusters irrespective of their actual numbers of composing atoms, and its use has now been extended to also include tubular structures. Fullerenes are found to be unusually stable and, even though originally thought to be rare in nature, can actually be easily made and are found in a variety of substances as a result of chemical processes. Due to the potential of technological applications, fullerenes are the subject of intense investigations of their physical, chemical, and material properties. Their chemical reactivities are not well understood and the purpose of this fundamental research project is to contribute to the knowledge base of these systems and thereby help in their eventual exploitation for technological applications.