Using carbon to package matter

These last years, a lot of researchers of the whole world have characterized some molecules which are neither linear nor plane but built of pure carbon curved surfaces. There are fullerenes but also nano-tubes and nano-particles. These compounds are synthesized by graphite vaporization in an inert gas atmosphere. The methods used for vaporization are the electric arc method or the laser. One of the main attractivenesses of these carbon arrangements is that they can be atomic clusters. Thus, it is possible to insert superconductors as for instance YNi2B2C whose transition temperature is lower than 15 K. The obtained nano-particles are superconductors at the same temperature too. Very interesting superconductive powders production can then be considered. Another very interesting property of the nano-tubes is their mechanical resistance which is higher than those of the best steels. Lastly, they are good electrical conductors. Nano-tubes can be obtained with boron nitride (BN) too. This compound is a good electrical insulator. So we can think that before long it will be possible to manufacture mixed tubes with BN-C junctions and to use them in electronics. (O.M.)