title: Molecule concept nanocars: chassis, wheels, and motors?
abstract: The design, synthesis, and running of a molecular nanovehicle on a surface assisted by proper nanocommunication channels for feeding and guiding the vehicle now constitute an active field of research and are no longer a nano-joke. In this Perspective, we describe how this field began, its growth, and problems to be solved. Better molecular wheels, a molecular motor with its own gears assembling for torque transmission must be mounted on (i.e., chemically bonded to) a good molecular chassis for the resulting covalently constructed molecular nanovehicle to run on a surface in a controlled manner at the atomic scale. We propose a yearly molecule concept nanocar contest to boost molecular nanovehicle research.
authors.affiliation: CEMES-CNRS, NanoSciences Group & MANA Satellite, 29 rue Jeanne Marvig, BP 94347, F-31055 Toulouse cedex 4, France. joachim@cemes.fr
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Joachim
authors.forename: Gwénael
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rapenne
mesh_terms: D000218:Adamantane / Q000737:chemistry*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D000218:Adamantane