Directional control in thermally driven single-molecule nanocars.
With the hope of directing future bottom-up fabrication through bulk external stimuli (such as electric fields) on nanometer-sized transporters, we sought to study controlled molecular motion on surfaces through the rational design of surface-capable molecular structures called nanocars. Here we show that the observed movement of the nanocars is a new type of fullerene-based wheel-like rolling motion, not stick-slip or sliding translation, due to evidence including directional preference in both direct and indirect manipulation and studies of related molecular structures.
Shirai
Yasuhiro
Y
Department of Chemistry, Center for Nanoscle Science and Technology, Houston, Texas 77005, USA.
Osgood
Andrew J
AJ
Zhao
Yuming
Y
Kelly
Kevin F
KF
Tour
James M
JM