Supramolecular Self-assembly of Carbon Structures from Shungite Rock Using Only Water

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In spite the fact that fullerene and any type of carbon are not soluble in water the main goal of this work is to produce evidence of realization of a supramolecular self-assembly of carbon structures from shungite rock using only water. SEM investigations confirm existence of new forms of carbon structures: a globular fullerene-like quasi-crystal particle, a spongy solid foam-like and zeolite-like particle. Such natural fullerene-based self-assembled supramolecular carbon structures have been developed through specific pretreated enriched carbon-rich shungite rocks, in which dispersion phase (fullerene-containing shungite carbon ~30 wt. %) is uniformly distributed among dispersion medium (silicates ~70 wt. %, from which ~80 wt. % is SiO2) in the form of nanoparticles. Supramolecular structures consist of various types of carbon, which conductivity is changed from well conducting up to non-conducting. So the using SEM includes variable pressure technology to investigate elemental analysis non-conducting specimens in their original condition without intrusive preparation. Fullerene-similarity in nature is well known. There is much pentagonal symmetry in living organisms but only hexagonal in the inorganic, like crystals. Perhaps discovered pentagonal symmetry in natural fullerene-based quasi-crystal particle is an intermediate between animate nature and abiocoen. Moreover discovered natural fullerene-based self-assembly is an intermediate between “intelligent self-assembly” biological structures and other self-assembled materials. The uniqueness of the supramolecular structures has provided us with novel approaches to develop new polymeric biomaterials.

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Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 1, Technical Proceedings of the 2005 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Trade Show, Volume 1
Published: May 8, 2005
Pages: 793 - 796
Industry sectors: Advanced Materials & Manufacturing | Personal & Home Care, Food & Agriculture
Topic: Personal & Home Care, Food & Agriculture
ISBN: 0-9767985-0-6