The diversity of carbon

Carbon is a central element in the periodic table and forms various allotropes, including graphite and diamond. Recent research by the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung has discovered fullerenes and carbon nanotubes in heavy petroleum fractions. This discovery is remarkable because fullerenes are normally associated with high-energy events. Using state-of-the-art analytical methods and theoretical calculations, various fullerenes from C₃₀ to C₁₅₀ have been characterized, opening up new perspectives in carbon research.