Robert F. Curl

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Robert F. Curl

1933-

American chemist who discovered fullerenes, a new form of carbon that had been predicted but not previously found in nature or synthesized. Since its synthesis in the laboratory, fullerenes have been discovered in nature. While still primarily a laboratory tool, many uses have been suggested for fullerenes and, as their properties and manipulation become better known and more routine, fullerenes seem certain to be of great utility for a number of purposes.