To the eyes of a chemist, carbon is certainly one of the most fascinating elements of the periodic table. Basically, the electronic structure and atomic size of carbon enables this element to form a variety of bonds with other elements and, most importantly, with other carbon atoms as weIl. These unique features lead to the amazingly complicated molecular structures we encounter e. g. in life sciences and organic chemistry. Of course, the technical importance of carbon is enormou- but I don't want to carry too many coals to Newcastle. Prom the viewpoint of an astrophysicist or chemist, the significance of carbon lies in the fact that it is the most abundant condensable element in space. Born in the interior of stars, and from there expelled into the interstellar medium, it initiates the formation of simple and complex molecules and of nanoscopic grains. These in turn form huge clouds in space - the birthplace of new stars and planetary systems. The decisive role of carbon in interstellar chemistry is widely accepted and the search for more and more families of interstellar carbon-bearing molecules is a topic of ongoing research. The interdisciplinary aspect of carbon also concerns its various solid forms, in which C and the other closed-cage fullerenes are certainly some of the most popular 60 newcomers.

To the eyes of a chemist, carbon is certainly one of the most fascinating elements of the periodic table. Basically, the electronic structure and atomic size of carbon enables this element to form a variety of bonds with other elements and, most importantly, with other carbon atoms as weIl. These unique features lead to the amazingly complicated molecular structures we encounter e. g. in life sciences and organic chemistry. Of course, the technical importance of carbon is enormou- but I don't want to carry too many coals to Newcastle. Prom the viewpoint of an astrophysicist or chemist, the significance of carbon lies in the fact that it is the most abundant condensable element in space. Born in the interior of stars, and from there expelled into the interstellar medium, it initiates the formation of simple and complex molecules and of nanoscopic grains. These in turn form huge clouds in space - the birthplace of new stars and planetary systems. The decisive role of carbon in interstellar chemistry is widely accepted and the search for more and more families of interstellar carbon-bearing molecules is a topic of ongoing research. The interdisciplinary aspect of carbon also concerns its various solid forms, in which C and the other closed-cage fullerenes are certainly some of the most popular 60 newcomers.

In recent years very active research has been going on to understand the physics and chemistry of clusters, an intermediate state of matter between atoms and solids. Great excitement has been added to these efforts with the recent discovery of a new form of carbon, the fullerene and its aggregates, and subsequent observations of superconductivity with alkali doping. This volume critically reviews the recent progress made in the area of clusters and discusses the new problems opened up with the ongoing developments in fullerenes.

The aesthetically pleasing molecular architectures of fullerenes and nanotubes are appealing not only because of their beauty but also because they are responsible for the many unprecedented chemical and physical properties of this compound class. Although succession of exciting new discoveries continues unabated fullerene research has become a mature science. It is now possible to predict fullerene chemistry, to design new structure variations like open fullerene clusters, heterofullerenes and endohedral fullerenes, and to develop fullerene materials and modified nanotubes with high potential for technological applications. This volume represents the state-of-the-art of fullerene research, focussing on areas showing high potential for future growth and practical applications. The authors are leading scientists whose groups are making major contributions in the field.

The field of nanoscience was pioneered in the 1980s with the groundbreaking research on clusters, which later led to the discovery of fullerenes. Handbook of Nanophysics: Clusters and Fullerenes focuses on the fundamental physics of these nanoscale materials and structures. Each peer-reviewed chapter contains a broad-based introduction and enhances

Papers from a symposium at the 201st National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Atlanta, Georgia, April 1991. Among the topics covered in 12 chapters: bulk production by extraction from carbon smoke deposits; carbon-arc synthesis; separation of fullerene mixtures; doping the fullerenes; structural elucidation; conductivity and superconductivity; thermal properties; and metal complexes of fullerenes. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

The findings reported in this book on the methods of cluster measurements will lead to new avenues using nondestructive mass spectrometry and dipole mass isomers. Much attention is given to the physics and chemistry of fullerenes and nanotubes, including the problems surrounding the formation and growth of nanotubes, electron characteristics of fullerenes, the influence of solvents, simulation of the properties of carbon clusters, etc. Some unique experimental data on the conversion of aerosols into aerogels with the formation of fractal structures is provided. In addition, the book covers one of the most interesting subjects of modern physics -- fractal clusters.