Fullerene

Fullerene is a rare carbon-based material in Oxygen Not Included that represents buckminsterfullerene-like molecules (spherical assemblies of carbon). It functions as a high-value crafting resource used in late-game production chains and appears primarily as a space/asteroid resource rather than a naturally-occurring deposit on a base map. Fullerene is closely tied to the Molecular Forge for synthetic production, and to rocket/asterial mechanics for harvesting in bulk or as meteorite drops once certain space events have occurred.

Fullerene can be produced in the Molecular Forge using Graphite, Sulfur, and Aluminum at an input ratio of 90 kg Graphite + 5 kg Sulfur + 5 kg Aluminum → 100 kg Fullerene. It is also an ingredient in producing Super Coolant in the Molecular Forge: 1 kg Fullerene + 49.5 kg Gold + 49.5 kg Petroleum → 100 kg Super Coolant. These recipes make Fullerene an important component for advanced coolant manufacture and for any strategy that converts carbon-rich inputs into high-end materials.

Sources and locations: in the base game Fullerene is obtainable as a rare resource on asteroids and can be retrieved via cargo bays on fully explored asteroids when the rare resource flag is present. A gilded asteroid yields a larger deposit, typically amounting to roughly 10–15% of the asteroid’s mass as Fullerene in a high-density deposit. In Spaced Out content, Fullerene may be harvested from renewable Gilded Asteroid Fields; those fields regenerate Fullerene over time with regeneration rates of 30–90 kg per cycle depending on the field. After the Temporal Tear Opener event is activated on a planetoid, Fullerene-containing meteors will fall daily on that planetoid, each meteor carrying 3–20 kg of Fullerene; these meteor showers cease when the save is reloaded.

Practical notes for use and logistics:

• Because Fullerene is rare and used in high-value recipes, prioritize Molecular Forge runs to convert abundant Graphite into Fullerene if you need Super Coolant or stocks of Fullerene for manufacturing.
• When planning rocket missions, target Gilded Asteroid Fields for renewable Fullerene or single gilded asteroids for large initial hauls; include tradeoffs for cargo capacity versus mission frequency because regeneration on fields is limited by the stated per-cycle rates.
• Meteor harvests after firing the Temporal Tear Opener are a convenient short-term source but are small per meteor (3–20 kg) and are non-repeatable across reloads; do not rely on meteor showers as a steady supply.
• Because Fullerene production consumes significant Graphite, factor carbon sourcing (e.g., mining Graphite veins, processing coal) into any strategy that converts to Fullerene at scale.
• Use Fullerene mainly where its contribution enables production of high-tier materials (notably Super Coolant); avoid using it for low-value crafting to conserve limited supply.

Chemically and thematically, Fullerene in-game represents the buckyball family of carbon molecules and is associated with advanced nanomaterials research in real-world study; its in-game role mirrors this by being a compact, high-value carbon allotrope used in late-game engineering.