Maia Angelova (University of Northumbria at Newcastle)
maia.angelova@unn.ac.uk
Fullerenes, Cn, are all-carbon molecules with a closed-cage structure and a nearly spherical appearance. Each carbon atom is bonded to three others to form a polyhedron with 12 pentagonal and ( 1/2n-10) hexagonal faces. The best known fullerene is C60, the molecule with 60 equivalent carbon atoms arranged on the vertices of a truncated icosahedron. The properties of C60 molecule are discussed and its icosahedral symmetry is described. Finite Coxeter groups H3 and H4 and their Coxeter diagrams are introduced and the symmetry of C60 fullerene is illustrated by the diagrams of the group H3. The solid form of C60 is described, some interesting doped structures are given and their properties discussed. The symmetries of other popular fullerenes are also considered. Possible embedding of fullerenes to form onion-like structures are discussed and illustrated by the groups H3 and H4.
Special knowledge of the matter is not required. All structures would be illustrated in details and all necessary definitions given. The talk would be accessible to a broad audience.