title: The bottom-up approach to molecular-level devices and machines.
abstract: The macroscopic concepts of a device and a machine can be extended to the molecular level. Molecular-level devices and machines are constructed by a bottom-up approach. The atom-by-atom bottom-up approach is unrealistic from the chemical viewpoint. The bottom-up approach molecule-by-molecule following the guidelines of supramolecular (multicomponent) chemistry has proved to be successful. The extension of the concepts of a device and a machine to the molecular level is of interest not only for basic research, but also for the growth of nanoscience and the development of nanotechnology.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica G. Ciamician Università di Bologna, via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy. vbalzani@ciam.unibo.it
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Balzani
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Credi
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Venturi