Curl's research at Rice involved the fields of infrared and microwave spectroscopy. Curl's research inspired Richard Smalley to come to Rice in 1976 with the intention of collaborating with Curl. In 1985, Curl was contacted by Harold Kroto, who wanted to use a laser beam apparatus built by Smalley to simulate and study the formation of carbon chains in red giant stars. Smalley and Curl had previously used this apparatus to study semiconductors such as silicon and germanium. They were initially reluctant to interrupt their experiments on these semiconductor materials to use their apparatus for Kroto's experiments on carbon, but eventually gave in.
They indeed found the long carbon chains they were looking for, but also found an unexpected product that had 60 carbon atoms. Over the course of 11 days, the team studied and determined its structure and named it buckminsterfullerene after noting its similarity to the geodesic domes for which the architect Buckminster Fuller was known. This discovery was based solely on the single prominent peak on the mass spectrograph, implying a chemically inert substance that was geometrically closed with no dangling bonds. Curl was responsible for determining the optimal conditions of the carbon vapor in the apparatus, and examining the spectrograph. Curl noted that James R. Heath and Sean C. O'Brien deserve equal recognition in the work to Smalley and Kroto. The existence of this type of molecule had earlier been theorized by others, but Curl and his colleagues were at the time unaware of this. Later experiments confirmed their proposed structure, and the team moved on to synthesize endohedral fullerenes that had a metal atom inside the hollow carbon shell. The fullerenes, a class of molecules of which buckminsterfullerene was the first member discovered, are now considered to have potential applications in nanomaterials and molecular scale electronics. Robert Curl's 1985 paper entitled "C60: Buckminsterfullerine", published with colleagues H. Kroto, J. R. Heath, S. C. O’Brien, and R. E. Smalley, was honored by a Citation for Chemical Breakthrough Award from the Division of History of Chemistry of the American Chemical Society, presented to Rice University in 2015. The discovery of fullerenes was recognized in 2010 by the designation of a National Historic Chemical Landmark by the American Chemical Society at the Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology at Rice University in Houston, Texas.
After winning the Nobel Prize in 1996, Curl took a quieter path than Smalley, who became an outspoken advocate of nanotechnology, and Kroto, who used his fame to further his interest in science education, saying, "After winning a Nobel, you can either become a scientific pontificator, or you can have some idea for a new science project and you can use your newfound notoriety to get the resources to do it. Or you can say, 'Well, I enjoy what I was doing, and I want to keep doing that.'" True to that humility, when asked by the President of Rice what he would like, following the Nobel announcement, he asked that a bike rack be installed closer to his office and laboratory.
"Robert F. Curl". Department of Chemistry, Rice University. Retrieved July 19, 2016. https://chemistry.rice.edu/FacultyDetail.aspx?RiceID=589
Robert F. Curl, Jr http://www.nndb.com/people/798/000100498/
Carey, Charles W. Jr. (2006). American scientists. New York, NY: Facts on File. pp. 79–80. ISBN 9780816054992. Retrieved July 19, 2016. 9780816054992
Proffitt, Pamela (2001). "Robert Floyd Curl Jr.". In Narins, Brigham (ed.). Notable Scientists from 1900 to the Present. Farmington Hills, MI: The Gale Group. pp. 503–4. ISBN 978-0787617523. 978-0787617523
"Robert F. Curl Jr. – Biographical". Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB. 1996. Retrieved July 12, 2014. https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1996/curl-bio.html
Berger, Eric (June 29, 2008). "Legendary Rice professor Robert Curl retiring". Chron. Retrieved July 12, 2014. http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Legendary-Rice-professor-Robert-Curl-retiring-1665527.php
"TJHS Alumni: Dr. Robert Floyd Curl Jr. '50". Thomas Jefferson High School Alumni Association. August 5, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2014. http://www.tjhsalumni.org/mustangspotlight/1365546
"Robert F. Curl Jr. – Biographical". Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB. 1996. Retrieved July 12, 2014. https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1996/curl-bio.html
Robert F. Curl, Jr http://www.nndb.com/people/798/000100498/
"Robert F. Curl Jr. – Biographical". Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB. 1996. Retrieved July 12, 2014. https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1996/curl-bio.html
Robert F. Curl, Jr http://www.nndb.com/people/798/000100498/
Proffitt, Pamela (2001). "Robert Floyd Curl Jr.". In Narins, Brigham (ed.). Notable Scientists from 1900 to the Present. Farmington Hills, MI: The Gale Group. pp. 503–4. ISBN 978-0787617523. 978-0787617523
"Robert F. Curl Jr. – Biographical". Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB. 1996. Retrieved July 12, 2014. https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1996/curl-bio.html
"Robert F. Curl Jr. – Biographical". Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB. 1996. Retrieved July 12, 2014. https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1996/curl-bio.html
Proffitt, Pamela (2001). "Robert Floyd Curl Jr.". In Narins, Brigham (ed.). Notable Scientists from 1900 to the Present. Farmington Hills, MI: The Gale Group. pp. 503–4. ISBN 978-0787617523. 978-0787617523
Berger, Eric (June 29, 2008). "Legendary Rice professor Robert Curl retiring". Chron. Retrieved July 12, 2014. http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Legendary-Rice-professor-Robert-Curl-retiring-1665527.php
"Robert F. Curl Jr. – Biographical". Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB. 1996. Retrieved July 12, 2014. https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1996/curl-bio.html
"Robert F. Curl: University Professor Emeritus, Pitzer-Schlumberger Professor of Natural Sciences Emeritus, Professor of Chemistry Emeritus". Rice University Department of Chemistry. Retrieved July 12, 2014. http://chemistry.rice.edu/FacultyDetail.aspx?RiceID=589
Proffitt, Pamela (2001). "Robert Floyd Curl Jr.". In Narins, Brigham (ed.). Notable Scientists from 1900 to the Present. Farmington Hills, MI: The Gale Group. pp. 503–4. ISBN 978-0787617523. 978-0787617523
"Richard E. Smalley, Robert F. Curl, Jr., and Harold W. Kroto". Science History Institute. June 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2018. https://www.sciencehistory.org/historical-profile/richard-smalley-robert-curl-harold-kroto
Proffitt, Pamela (2001). "Robert Floyd Curl Jr.". In Narins, Brigham (ed.). Notable Scientists from 1900 to the Present. Farmington Hills, MI: The Gale Group. pp. 503–4. ISBN 978-0787617523. 978-0787617523
"Richard E. Smalley, Robert F. Curl, Jr., and Harold W. Kroto". Science History Institute. June 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2018. https://www.sciencehistory.org/historical-profile/richard-smalley-robert-curl-harold-kroto
"Richard E. Smalley, Robert F. Curl, Jr., and Harold W. Kroto". Science History Institute. June 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2018. https://www.sciencehistory.org/historical-profile/richard-smalley-robert-curl-harold-kroto
Shampo, Marc A.; Kyle, Robert A.; David P., David P. (August 2010). "Robert F. Curl Jr—Nobel Laureate in Chemistry". Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 85 (8): e58. doi:10.4065/mcp.2010.0448. PMC 2912751. PMID 20704028. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2912751
Curl, Robert F. (July 1997). "Dawn of the fullerenes: experiment and conjecture". Reviews of Modern Physics. 69 (3): 691–702. Bibcode:1997RvMP...69..691C. doi:10.1103/RevModPhys.69.691. /wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)
Proffitt, Pamela (2001). "Robert Floyd Curl Jr.". In Narins, Brigham (ed.). Notable Scientists from 1900 to the Present. Farmington Hills, MI: The Gale Group. pp. 503–4. ISBN 978-0787617523. 978-0787617523
"Robert F. Curl Jr. – Biographical". Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB. 1996. Retrieved July 12, 2014. https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1996/curl-bio.html
Curl, Robert F. (July 1997). "Dawn of the fullerenes: experiment and conjecture". Reviews of Modern Physics. 69 (3): 691–702. Bibcode:1997RvMP...69..691C. doi:10.1103/RevModPhys.69.691. /wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)
"Robert F. Curl Jr. – Biographical". Nobelprize.org. Retrieved July 19, 2016. https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1996/curl-bio.html
Kroto, H. W.; Heath, J. R.; O'Brien, S. C.; Curl, R. F.; Smalley, R. E. (November 14, 1985). "C60: Buckminsterfullerene". Nature. 318 (6042): 162–163. Bibcode:1985Natur.318..162K. doi:10.1038/318162a0. S2CID 4314237. /wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)
Heath, J. R.; O'Brien, S. C.; Zhang, Q.; Liu, Y.; Curl, R. F.; Tittel, F. K.; Smalley, R. E. (December 1985). "Lanthanum complexes of spheroidal carbon shells". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 107 (25): 7779–7780. doi:10.1021/ja00311a102. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Zhang, Q. L.; O'Brien, S. C.; Heath, J. R.; Liu, Y.; Curl, R. F.; Kroto, H. W.; Smalley, R. E. (February 1986). "Reactivity of large carbon clusters: spheroidal carbon shells and their possible relevance to the formation and morphology of soot". The Journal of Physical Chemistry. 90 (4): 525–528. doi:10.1021/j100276a001. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
"Richard E. Smalley, Robert F. Curl, Jr., and Harold W. Kroto". Science History Institute. June 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2018. https://www.sciencehistory.org/historical-profile/richard-smalley-robert-curl-harold-kroto
"2015 Awardees". American Chemical Society, Division of the History of Chemistry. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Chemical Sciences. 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2016. http://www.scs.illinois.edu/~mainzv/HIST/awards/CCB-2015_Awardees.php
"Citation for Chemical Breakthrough Award" (PDF). American Chemical Society, Division of the History of Chemistry. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Chemical Sciences. 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2016. http://www.scs.illinois.edu/~mainzv/HIST/awards/Citations/2015-Kroto%20plaque.pdf
"Discovery of Fullerenes National Historic Chemical Landmark". American Chemical Society. Retrieved July 18, 2016. https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/fullerenes.html
Berger, Eric (June 29, 2008). "Legendary Rice professor Robert Curl retiring". Chron. Retrieved July 12, 2014. http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Legendary-Rice-professor-Robert-Curl-retiring-1665527.php
Robert F. Curl (1933–2022), Nature, 17 Aug 2022 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41565-022-01195-0
"Robert F. Curl Jr.". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved July 12, 2013. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/146968/Robert-F-Curl-Jr
"Robert Curl". Rice University Baker Institute for Public Policy. June 28, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2014. http://bakerinstitute.org/experts/robert-curl/
Berger, Eric (June 29, 2008). "Legendary Rice professor Robert Curl retiring". Chron. Retrieved July 12, 2014. http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Legendary-Rice-professor-Robert-Curl-retiring-1665527.php
"Robert F. Curl". Department of Chemistry, Rice University. Retrieved July 19, 2016. https://chemistry.rice.edu/FacultyDetail.aspx?RiceID=589
"Robert F. Curl: University Professor Emeritus, Pitzer-Schlumberger Professor of Natural Sciences Emeritus, Professor of Chemistry Emeritus". Rice University Department of Chemistry. Retrieved July 12, 2014. http://chemistry.rice.edu/FacultyDetail.aspx?RiceID=589
Jade Boyd (July 4, 2022). "Nobel laureate, beloved Rice professor Robert Curl dead at 88". Rice University. Retrieved July 5, 2022. https://news.rice.edu/news/2022/nobel-laureate-beloved-rice-professor-robert-curl-dead-88
Durrani, Jamie (July 5, 2022). "Chemistry Nobel laureate Robert Curl dies at 88". Chemistry World. Retrieved July 26, 2022. https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/chemistry-nobel-laureate-robert-curl-dies-at-88/4015908.article
Murphy, Brian (July 6, 2022). "Robert Curl, Nobel-winning chemist in 'buckyball' discovery, dies at 88". Washington Post. Retrieved July 26, 2022. https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2022/07/06/robert-curl-dies-buckyball-chemistry/
Chang, Kenneth (July 20, 2022). "Robert F. Curl Jr., Nobel Prize Winner in Chemistry, Dies at 88". The New York Times. Retrieved July 26, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/20/science/robert-f-curl-jr-dead.html
Robert F. Curl (1933–2022), Nature, 17 Aug 2022 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41565-022-01195-0
"Guide to the Rice University Nobel Prize records, 1978–2006, bulk 1996 UA 123". Rice University. Archived from the original on January 15, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20080115192102/http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/ricewrc/00248/rice-00248.html
Hargittai, István; Hargittai, Magdolna (2000). Candid science. London: Imperial College Press. pp. 375–388. ISBN 978-1860941511. Retrieved July 18, 2016. 978-1860941511
"Guide to the Rice University Nobel Prize records, 1978–2006, bulk 1996 UA 123". Rice University. Archived from the original on January 15, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20080115192102/http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/ricewrc/00248/rice-00248.html
Hargittai, István; Hargittai, Magdolna (2000). Candid science. London: Imperial College Press. pp. 375–388. ISBN 978-1860941511. Retrieved July 18, 2016. 978-1860941511
Unrau, Lia (May 5, 1997). "Rice University Professor Curl Elected to National Academy of Sciences". Rice University News and Media. Retrieved July 19, 2016. http://news.rice.edu/1997/05/05/rice-university-professor-curl-elected-to-national-academy-of-sciences/
"Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement. https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#science-exploration
"Prof. Dr. Robert Floyd Curl". Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. Retrieved July 19, 2016. http://www.mediatheque.lindau-nobel.org/laureates/curl-jr
"American Academy of Arts & Sciences". Rice University. Retrieved July 19, 2016. http://oir.rice.edu/Factbook/Faculty_and_Staff/Achievements/American_Academy_of_Arts___Sciences/
"Guide to the Rice University Nobel Prize records, 1978–2006, bulk 1996 UA 123". Rice University. Archived from the original on January 15, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20080115192102/http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/ricewrc/00248/rice-00248.html
"Robert F. Curl Jr. – Biographical". Nobelprize.org. Retrieved July 19, 2016. https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1996/curl-bio.html
"Prof. Dr. Robert Floyd Curl". Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. Retrieved July 19, 2016. http://www.mediatheque.lindau-nobel.org/laureates/curl-jr
"Guide to the Rice University Nobel Prize records, 1978–2006, bulk 1996 UA 123". Rice University. Archived from the original on January 15, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20080115192102/http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/ricewrc/00248/rice-00248.html
"Guide to the Rice University Nobel Prize records, 1978–2006, bulk 1996 UA 123". Rice University. Archived from the original on January 15, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20080115192102/http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/ricewrc/00248/rice-00248.html
"Prof. Dr. Robert Floyd Curl". Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. Retrieved July 19, 2016. http://www.mediatheque.lindau-nobel.org/laureates/curl-jr
"Guide to the Rice University Nobel Prize records, 1978–2006, bulk 1996 UA 123". Rice University. Archived from the original on January 15, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20080115192102/http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/ricewrc/00248/rice-00248.html
"Discovery of Fullerenes National Historic Chemical Landmark". American Chemical Society. Retrieved July 18, 2016. https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/fullerenes.html
"2015 Awardees". American Chemical Society, Division of the History of Chemistry. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Chemical Sciences. 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2016. http://www.scs.illinois.edu/~mainzv/HIST/awards/CCB-2015_Awardees.php
"Citation for Chemical Breakthrough Award" (PDF). American Chemical Society, Division of the History of Chemistry. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Chemical Sciences. 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2016. http://www.scs.illinois.edu/~mainzv/HIST/awards/Citations/2015-Kroto%20plaque.pdf
"Guide to the Rice University Nobel Prize records, 1978–2006, bulk 1996 UA 123". Rice University. Archived from the original on January 15, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20080115192102/http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/ricewrc/00248/rice-00248.html
"Prof. Dr. Robert Floyd Curl". Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. Retrieved July 19, 2016. http://www.mediatheque.lindau-nobel.org/laureates/curl-jr