Molecular machines: nanomotor rotates microscale objects.
Nanomachines of the future will require molecular-scale motors that can perform work and collectively induce controlled motion of much larger objects. We have designed a synthetic, light-driven molecular motor that is embedded in a liquid-crystal film and can rotate objects placed on the film that exceed the size of the motor molecule by a factor of 10,000. The changes in shape of the motor during the rotary steps cause a remarkable rotational reorganization of the liquid-crystal film and its surface relief, which ultimately causes the rotation of submillimetre-sized particles on the film.
Eelkema
Rienk
R
Department of Organic and Molecular Inorganic Chemistry, Stratingh Institute, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.
Pollard
Michael M
MM
Vicario
Javier
J
Katsonis
Nathalie
N
Ramon
Blanca Serrano
BS
Bastiaansen
Cees W M
CW
Broer
Dirk J
DJ
Feringa
Ben L
BL