title: Light-powered, artificial molecular pumps: a minimalistic approach.
abstract: The realization of artificial molecular motors capable of converting energy into mechanical work is a fascinating challenge of nanotechnology and requires reactive systems that can operate away from chemical equilibrium. This article describes the design and construction of a simple, supramolecular ensemble in which light irradiation causes the directional transit of a macrocycle along a nonsymmetric molecular axle, thus forming the basis for the development of artificial molecular pumps.
authors.affiliation: Photochemical Nanosciences Laboratory, Dipartimento di Chimica "G. Ciamician", Università di Bologna, via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ragazzon
authors.affiliation: Photochemical Nanosciences Laboratory, Dipartimento di Chimica "G. Ciamician", Università di Bologna, via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baroncini
authors.affiliation: Photochemical Nanosciences Laboratory, Dipartimento di Chimica "G. Ciamician", Università di Bologna, via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy ; Interuniversity Center for the Chemical Conversion of Solar Energy (SolarChem), Bologna Unit, via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Silvi
authors.affiliation: Photochemical Nanosciences Laboratory, Dipartimento di Chimica "G. Ciamician", Università di Bologna, via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy ; Interuniversity Center for the Chemical Conversion of Solar Energy (SolarChem), Bologna Unit, via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy, ; Istituto per la Sintesi Organica e la Fotoreattività, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Venturi
authors.affiliation: Photochemical Nanosciences Laboratory, Dipartimento di Chimica "G. Ciamician", Università di Bologna, via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy ; Interuniversity Center for the Chemical Conversion of Solar Energy (SolarChem), Bologna Unit, via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Credi
keywords: azobenzene; molecular machine; photochemistry; rotaxane; supramolecular chemistry