Attend the Multiscale Characterization of Hierarchical, Multifunctional C60 Structures seminar, Aug. 29
Join the School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks for the Multiscale Characterization of Hierarchical, Multifunctional C60 Structures seminar.
Abstract
The discovery that laser vaporization of graphite could produce C60 buckminsterfullerene, along with other fullerene molecules, ultimately led to the Nobel Prize for scientists Robert Curl, Harold Kroto and Richard Smalley. C60 molecules have a distinctive soccer ball–like cage structure, with carbon atoms connected through single and double bonds. Beyond their molecular form, C60 can also form condensed phases, most often as molecular crystals. Under conditions such as pressure, electric fields or radiation, these molecular crystal polymorphs can undergo polymerization through covalent bonding between neighboring C60 molecules.
C60 also has the remarkable ability to self-assemble from solution into a variety of solid-state structures with well-defined porosities. In this talk, we will explore three directions of our work that combine multiscale modeling with experiments. First, we introduce a dip-coating procedure for self-assembling faceted, polymerized fullerene nanorods and provide guidelines for controlling their spatial distribution, size, shape, morphology and chemistry. Second, using density functional theory, we demonstrate that solid-state C60 structures can support superionic conduction of lithium and sodium ions, marking an important step toward developing fullerene-based solid-state electrolytes for advanced batteries. Third, we present pathways for controllable polymerization of C60 solids, offering insights into how thermophysical properties can be significantly tuned and enhanced through polymerization.
About the speaker
Krishna Muralidharan is a professor of materials science and engineering at the University of Arizona, with affiliate appointments in the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory and the Graduate Interdisciplinary Program in Applied Mathematics. He earned his doctoral degree in materials science and engineering from the University of Arizona in 2004 and held research positions at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the University of Florida before returning to Arizona as a faculty member. He currently serves as director of the Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing at the University of Arizona, where his research advances semiconductor device technologies, additive manufacturing, multiscale energy storage systems and planetary materials analysis through integrated computational materials engineering.
Multiscale Characterization of Hierarchical, Multifunctional C60 Structures
Friday, Aug. 29, 2025
11a.m.–noon
ISTB12 215, ASU Polytechnic campus [map]