Buckminsterfullerene, C₆₀, was discovered through a prominent mass peak containing 60 atoms produced from laser vaporization of graphite, driven by Kroto’s interest in understanding the formation mechanisms of carbon-containing molecules in space. Inspired by the geodesic dome-shaped architecture designed by Richard Buckminster Fuller, after whom the particle was named, C₆₀ was found to have a football-shaped structure comprising 20 hexagons and 12 pentagons. It sparked worldwide interest in understanding this new carbon allotrope, resulting in the awarding of the Noble Prize in Chemistry to Smalley, Kroto, and Curl in 1996.

中文翻译：

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富勒烯金属簇的多方面：从基础到应用

巴克敏斯特富勒烯 (C ₆₀ ) 是通过石墨激光汽化产生的包含 60 个原子的显着质量峰发现的，其动力来自 Kroto 对了解太空中含碳分子形成机制的兴趣。受到理查德·巴克明斯特·富勒（Richard Buckminster Fuller）设计的测地圆顶形结构（该粒子以他的名字命名）的启发，C ₆₀被发现具有由20个六边形和12个五边形组成的足球形结构。它激发了全世界对了解这种新型碳同素异形体的兴趣，并因此于 1996 年将诺贝尔化学奖授予了 Smalley、Kroto 和 Curl。