title: Micrometer-scale translation and monitoring of individual nanocars on glass.
abstract: Nanomachines designed to exhibit controlled mechanical motions on the molecular scale present new possibilities of building novel functional materials. Single molecule fluorescence imaging of dye-labeled nanocars on a glass surface at room temperature showed a coupled translational and rotational motion of these nanoscale machines with an activation energy of 42 +/- 5 kJ/mol. The 3 nm-long dye-labeled carborane-wheeled nanocars moved by as much as 2.5 mum with an average speed of 4.1 nm/s. Translation of the nanocars due a wheel-like rolling mechanism is proposed and this is consistent with the absence of movement for a three-wheeled nanocar analogue and the stationary behavior of unbound dye molecules. These findings are an important first step toward the rational design and ultimate control of surface-operational molecular machines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and the Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, USA.
authors.forename: Saumyakanti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khatua
authors.forename: Jason M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Guerrero
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Claytor
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vives
authors.forename: Anatoly B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Kolomeisky
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tour
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Link