What are some of the properties of the fullerenes?
[From Kirby Urner.] Buckminsterfullerene (C60) is becoming ever easier to get in quantity and shows many interesting optical properties. It stops light — the brighter the light the more effectively it stops it. Nano and pico-second laser pulses are effectively and instantly opaqued by small quantities of C60. A helmet visor treated with fullerene will instantly block an incoming laser beam — the stronger the ray, the faster the face glass turns dark (cooler than those “photosensitive” sunglasses) (Patterson AFB in Ohio is studying such applications). Many other optical properties of the fullerenes are under study. However, C60 remains forty times more expensive than gold. As Smalley put it “it’s the yield, stupid” — i.e. the central issue facing fullerene researchers, in Smalley’s opinion, is how to get more of it. The Smalley team approach of using parabolic mirrors to sun-generate fullerenes (to produce “sunnyballs”) appears to be a potentially promising approach. Concentrat
