After slightly improving the preparation method of fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, the smallest tube in the world, can now be made from pure carbon. The diameter of this tube is very small, about 1 nm. Both ends of the pipe can be closed. Because of its unique electrical and mechanical properties, it will be applied in electronic industry.
In the six years since scientists were able to obtain fullerenes, more than 1000 new compounds have been synthesized and their chemical, optical, electrical, mechanical or biological properties have been determined. The production cost of fullerenes is still too high, which limits their application.
Nowadays, there are more than 100 patents on fullerenes, but they still need to be explored before these exciting fullerenes can be widely used in industry.