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The 2005/2006 George D. Graffin Lectureship in Carbon Science and Engineering

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Dr. Peter C. Eklund
Professor, Departments of Physics and Materials Science & Engineering
The Pennsylvania State University

Crystalline sp2 Nanocarbons

The American Carbon Society supported by grants from the Asbury Graphite Mills, Inc., sponsors this lecture series in North American Universities in honor of George D. Graffin, a pioneer in the natural graphite industry. Each year the Society selects a lecturer who has made distinguished contributions to carbon science and engineering. The lecture is available to North American universities, by arrangement with the lecturer.

Abstract: Carbon is truly the "wonder element". Using linear combinations of carbon 2s and 2p atomic orbitals ( spn orbitals; n=1,2,3), carbon atoms can self-assemble into D-dimensional ordered crystals or molecules. For example, the following all-carbon structures have been observed that can succinctly be described by the pair of integers (n,D). For example: (n,D)= (3,3) diamond, (2,3) fulleride, (2,3) graphite, (2,2) graphene, (2,1) carbon nanotubes, (1,1) carbene, (2,0) fullerene.

In this colloquium, I will share some of our experimental results on sp2-bonded carbons where D=3,2,1,0 that over the years we have found particularly fascinating. These results include, the chemical transformation of graphite and nanotubes into synthetic "supermetals", the photo-polymerization of solid C60, the production of graphene, and finally the thermal transformation of SWNTs leading to the discovery of Graphitic Nanoribbons (GNRs). We shall comment on some particularly interesting physical properties of these (2,D) systems that we have observed along the way.


 

Venues and Dates

Professor Eklund's schedule was as follows:

  • Brown University - Providence, RI on February 14, 2006
  • MIT - Cambridge, MA on April 4, 2006
  • Columbia Chemicals Company - Marietta, GA on April 28, 2006
  • Washington University - St. Louis on September 4, 2006
  • Clemson University - Clemson, SC on September 7, 2006

For further information on the 2005/2006 Graffin Lecture Series please contact:

Dr. Peter C. Eklund
Departments of Physics
The Pennsylvania State University
104 Davey Laboratory, USA
University Park, Pennsylvania 16802-6300 USA
Tel: 814-865-5233
Fax: 814-865-9851
e-mail:pce3@psu.edu

Additional information may be found at the Society's web site at www.americancarbonsociety.org or contact:

The Education Secretary:
Mr. Albert Tamashausky
Director of Technical Services
Asbury Graphite Mills, Inc.
405 Old Main Street
P.O. Box 144
Asbury, NJ 08802-0144
email: ALBERT@asbury.com