Navigation Links
A nano car with molecular 4-wheel drive
Date:11/10/2011

colleague, Manfred Parschau, applied a voltage of at least 500 mV. Now electrons should "tunnel" through the molecule, thereby triggering reversible structural changes in each of the four motor units. It begins with a cis-trans isomerisation taking place at a double bond, a kind of rearrangement in an extremely unfavourable position in spatial terms, though, in which large side groups fight for space. As a result, the two side groups tilt to get past each other and end up back in their energetically more favourable original position the wheel has completed a half turn. If all four wheels turn at the same time, the car should travel forwards. At least, according to theory based on the molecular structure.

To drive or not to drive a simple question of orientation

And this is what Ernst and Parschau observed: after ten STM stimulations, the molecule had moved six nanometres forwards in a more or less straight line. "The deviations from the predicted trajectory result from the fact that it is not at all a trivial matter to stimulate all four motor units at the same time", explains "test driver" Ernst.

Another experiment showed that the molecule really does behave as predicted. A part of the molecule can rotate freely around the central axis, a C-C single bond the chassis of the car, so to speak. It can therefore "land" on the copper surface in two different orientations: in the right one, in which all four wheels turn in the same direction, and in the wrong one, in which the rear axle wheels turn forwards but the front ones turn backwards upon excitation the car remains at a standstill. Ernst und Parschau were able to observe this, too, with the STM.

Therefore, the researchers have achieved their first objective, a "proof of concept", i.e. they have been able to demonstrate that individual molecules can absorb external electrical energy and transform it into targeted motion. The next step envisioned by Ernst and his colleagues is to d
'/>"/>

Contact: Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Ernst, Empa Nanoscale Materials Science
karl-heinz.ernst@empa.ch
41-587-654-363
Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA)
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3

Related biology technology :

1. Shaken, not stirred: Berkeley lab scientists spy molecular maneuvers
2. Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics Provides Operations Update & Strategic Review of Pipeline
3. Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics Receives Opinion on Re-examination of Glybera® Marketing Authorisation Application
4. Researchers turn viruses into molecular Legos
5. Sequenom Center for Molecular Medicine Announces Launch of MaterniT21™ Noninvasive Prenatal Test for Down Syndrome
6. Catching molecular motion at just the right time
7. Global Molecular Cytogenetics Industry
8. ImaginAb, Inc. Announces Formation of Singapore Subsidiary, ImaginAb Molecular Imaging Pte Ltd.
9. Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics Licenses Additional Novel Gene Therapy Vectors from National Institutes of Health
10. Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics Reports Half-Year Results 2011
11. Chemists create molecular polyhedron -- and potential to enhance industrial and consumer products
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:6/19/2013)... MO BIO Laboratories, Inc., the leader ... nucleic acid purification, announces the launch of the ... pure protein from all soil types. This expansion ... th anniversary of the company and showcases ... http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130619/LA32633 ) The NoviPure™ ...
(Date:6/19/2013)... Today DuPont Executive Vice President James C. ... the greatest challenge facing our time – ensuring food ... spoke at the International Food and Agribusiness Management ... for students to contribute their time and talents to ... in collaboration with others. , “Food is one of ...
(Date:6/19/2013)... (PRWEB) June 19, 2013 India’s ... business can potentially be worth up to a ... opportunity, the Indian government is taking serious action ... the process. , This presentation will examine:, ... regulations ,     Immediate and long term impacts ...
(Date:6/19/2013)... 19, 2013 Adding to their already ... stocked with Simport’s Dropette® and Heathrow Scientific disposable ... customer doing basic biology, chemistry and any type of ... For over 35 years, Simport has been supplying the ... products like the Simport Dropette®. Simport’s Dropette® is a ...
Breaking Biology Technology:MO BIO Laboratories, Inc. launches the first kit for protein extraction from soil 2DuPont Leader Calls for New Generation of Food Visionaries to Fight Hunger 2Leading Pipette Distributor Pipette.com Now Stocks Transfer Pipettes: Simport’s Dropette and Heathrow Scientific Disposable Plastic Transfer Pipettes 2
... ... Orthopedics in Sheffield Village, Ohio, just west of Cleveland, now offers reverse total shoulder ... an intact rotator cuff. Until now, these individuals -- who are not candidates for ... pain." , ...
... ... Phillips, Media Investment Bankers, has announced that James R. Brennan, FACHE, ... and COO/CSO at MediServe Information Systems, Jim currently runs a business ... technology license and partnership deals, notably the sale of VanSlyck to ...
... , IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 31 Masimo ... CO-Oximetry(TM) and Measure-Through Motion and Low-Perfusion pulse oximetry, today announced ... Weisel Partners Healthcare Conference 2009 at the Four Seasons Hotel ... a.m. EDT. A live audiocast of the presentation will ...
Cached Biology Technology:Robert Zanotti, MD, Is First Lorain County, Ohio Orthopedic Surgeon to Perform Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement 2Robert Zanotti, MD, Is First Lorain County, Ohio Orthopedic Surgeon to Perform Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement 3Robert Zanotti, MD, Is First Lorain County, Ohio Orthopedic Surgeon to Perform Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement 4DeSilva + Phillips, Mediabankers, names Jim Brennan to Head Healthcare IT M&A Practice 2DeSilva + Phillips, Mediabankers, names Jim Brennan to Head Healthcare IT M&A Practice 3Masimo to Present at the Thomas Weisel Partners Healthcare Conference 2009 2
(Date:6/18/2013)... UT Arlington environmental engineer has been awarded a ... to ensure water quality and flow in the ... , Andrew Kruzic, UT Arlington associate professor of ... locations to add monochloramine to the water in ... new pump stations and pipelines. Adding monochloramine is ...
(Date:6/18/2013)... are expecting a very large "dead zone" in the ... level in the Chesapeake Bay this year, based on ... University of Michigan, Louisiana State University, and the ... Gulf of Mexico hypoxic "dead" zone will be between ... among the ten largest recorded. That would range from ...
(Date:6/18/2013)... Health has awarded $12.7 million to match nine ... industry compounds to explore new treatments for patients ... muscular dystrophy and schizophrenia. The collaborative pilot initiative, ... is led by the National Center for Advancing ... Common Fund. , The process of developing a ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):UT Arlington research to benefit quality, flow in 150-mile Integrated Pipeline 2NOAA, partners predict possible record-setting deadzone for Gulf of Mexico 2NOAA, partners predict possible record-setting deadzone for Gulf of Mexico 3NOAA, partners predict possible record-setting deadzone for Gulf of Mexico 4NIH to fund collaborations with industry to identify new uses for existing compounds 2NIH to fund collaborations with industry to identify new uses for existing compounds 3NIH to fund collaborations with industry to identify new uses for existing compounds 4
... School of Medicine researchers have identified the precursors of cells ... of defense against invading pathogens. The study will appear on ... a future issue. , A tight network of cells covering ... group of cells known as Langerhans cells. These cells ingest ...
... researchers at Duke's Pratt School of Engineering have imaged ... demonstration showed that the probes could give surgeons a ... are performed through tiny "keyhole" incisions. , If the ... lead to more precise and safer endoscopic surgeries, said ...
... sensor for detecting cocaine –?made with inexpensive, off-the-shelf electronics ... the University of California, Santa Barbara. Two local high ... discovery. The potential applications of the sensor are far-reaching ... The high school students made their own sensors and ...
Cached Biology News:Source of crucial immune cell in the skin discovered 23D ultrasound device poised to advance minimally invasive surgery 23D ultrasound device poised to advance minimally invasive surgery 3Portable cocaine sensor developed at UC Santa Barbara 2Portable cocaine sensor developed at UC Santa Barbara 3
Caliper offers a wide array of standard LabChip products designed to be used in combination with our AMS 90 and LabChip 3000 microfluidic platforms....
...
... preactivated with carbonyl diimidazole chemistry that covalently ... PS10 array contains the same binding chemistry ... an updated hydrophobic barrier coating. These arrays ... diameter spots spatially compatible with one column ...
...
Biology Products: