A Sepak Takraw - Based Molecular Model For C60 - A Mathematical Study Of A 60-Atom Molecule

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel molecular model for C60 based on a sepak takraw ball design, offering a new perspective on atomic arrangements and electron orbits, and compares it with traditional models.

Contribution

It proposes a new orthorhombic 20-dodecahedron model for C60, replacing the traditional truncated icosahedron, and discusses the strengths and weaknesses of various models.

Findings

The sepak takraw-based model captures atomic positions and electron orbits more effectively.

The new model offers a different geometric perspective on C60 structure.

Comparison shows advantages over traditional models in representing molecular relations.

Abstract

We mathematically investigate four molecular models of buckminsterfullerene (C60) discussing the strengths and weaknesses of each, and a new orthorhombic 20-dodecahedron model is proposed to replace the traditional truncated icosahedron model. This representation as a sepak takraw ball rather than a soccer ball allows for capturing the positional relations and electron orbits of the 60 atoms comprising the full molecule.