Article abstract
Nature Materials 4, 704 - 710 (2005)
doi:10.1038/nmat1455
Subject Categories: Optical, photonic and optoelectronic materials | Surface and thin films
Macroscopic transport by synthetic molecular machines
José Berná1, David A. Leigh1, Monika Lubomska2, Sandra M. Mendoza2, Emilio M. Pérez1, Petra Rudolf2, Gilberto Teobaldi3 and Francesco Zerbetto3
Abstract
Nature uses molecular motors and machines in virtually every significant biological process, but demonstrating that simpler artificial structures operating through the same gross mechanisms can be interfaced with—and perform physical tasks in—the macroscopic world represents a significant hurdle for molecular nanotechnology. Here we describe a wholly synthetic molecular system that converts an external energy source (light) into biased brownian motion to transport a macroscopic cargo and do measurable work. The millimetre-scale directional transport of a liquid on a surface is achieved by using the biased brownian motion of stimuli-responsive rotaxanes ('molecular shuttles') to expose or conceal fluoroalkane residues and thereby modify surface tension. The collective operation of a monolayer of the molecular shuttles is sufficient to power the movement of a microlitre droplet of diiodomethane up a twelve-degree incline.
- School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JJ, UK
- Materials Science Centre, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747AG Groningen, The Netherlands
- Dipartimento di Chimica 'G. Ciamician', Università degli Studi di Bologna, v. F. Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Correspondence to: David A. Leigh1 e-mail: David.Leigh@ed.ac.uk
Correspondence to: Petra Rudolf2 e-mail: P.Rudolf@rug.nl
Correspondence to: Francesco Zerbetto3 e-mail: francesco.zerbetto@unibo.it
MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS
These links to content published by NPG are automatically generated.
RESEARCH
A molecular information ratchetNature Letters to Editor (01 Feb 2007)
Unidirectional rotation in a mechanically interlocked molecular rotorNature Letters to Editor (10 Jul 2003)
Influencing intramolecular motion with an alternating electric fieldNature Letters to Editor (10 Aug 2000)
