title: Geometrical and electronic rules in fullerene-based compounds.
abstract: The discovery of buckminsterfullerene C(60) opened up a new scientific area and stimulated the development of nanoscience and nanotechnology directly. Fullerene science has since emerged to include fullerenes, endohedral fullerenes (mainly metallofullerenes), exofullerenes, and carbon nanotubes as well. Herein, we look back at the development of fullerene science from the perspective of epistemology by highlighting the proposed main rules or criteria for understanding and predicting the structures and stability of fullerene-based compounds. We also point out that a rule or criterion may contribute significantly to the corresponding discipline and suggest that two unsolved issues in fullerene science are the addition patterns of fullerene derivatives and the structures and stability of nonclassical fullerenes.
authors.affiliation: College of Materials Science and Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China. ganlh@swu.edu.cn
authors.forename: Li-Hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Fu-Sheng
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Zuo-Hua
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chang-Yuan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Tao