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Why are C60 molecules strong and nearly incompressible?
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fullerene
Two fullerene structures: an elongated carbon nanotube and a spherical buckminsterfullerene, or “buckyball.”
The C60 molecule, also known as buckminsterfullerene, derives its remarkable stability and strength from its unique structural geometry. It is a spheroidal, closed-cage molecule composed of 60 carbon atoms arranged in a truncated icosahedron—a pattern consisting of 12 pentagons and 20 hexagons.12
This design, which resembles a geodesic dome or a soccer ball, provides the molecule with exceptional structural integrity. The cage structure is highly symmetrical, allowing the molecule to maintain its form under significant pressure, which contributes to its nearly incompressible nature. This discovery of the C60 cage structure provided a new understanding of carbon allotropes and opened a new chapter in nanotechnology.12