This educational chemistry animation with audio explains synthesis or preparation of fullerene - carbon nanotube and buckyball by electric arc discharge, chemical vapor deposition and laser ablation.

This animation "Fullerene Synthesis - Production of Buckyball and Nanotube " gives details about the three common processes of producing fullerene molecules.

In the previous 15 years, artificial preparation of fullerenes has come up in a big way; three methods are primarily used for synthesis - laser ablation, chemical vapor deposition, and electric arc discharge. Each has its pros and cons.

Electric arc discharge can easily produce SWNT, MWNT and is not too expensive but tubes are short and have random sizes. Chemical vapor deposition produces good quality carbon nanotubes with long length but mainly produces multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT). Laser Ablation produces Single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) with low defects however it is a costly process.

• Properties
  
  
•  Fullerene Advanced - Buckyball - Nanotube
•  Introduction to Fullerene - Buckyball - Nanotube
•  Nanotube classification - zigzag, armchair chiral