Towards Powering Nanometer-Scale Devices with Molecular Motors: Single Molecule Engines
✍ Scribed by Hans-Jürgen Butt
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 2006
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 106 KB
- Volume
- 207
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 1022-1352
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Abstract
Summary: Future nanodevices such as levers, valves, pumps, and other functional parts will require molecular motors to generate mechanical work. Electrochemically switchable single polymer chains are possible candidates for such motors. The proof of principle that such a single macromolecular motor can work has been achieved using poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilane) (PFS). PFS can reversibly be oxidized and reduced by an external potential. This leads to changes in its mechanical properties, which can be used to drive a cyclic molecular engine. Such a system is compatible with a high density array of individually addressable molecular motors, e.g. by interfacing with electrodes smaller than the diffraction limit of light.
Cycle of the molecular motor consisting of a polymer chain between a surface and the end of an AFM cantilever.
magnified imageCycle of the molecular motor consisting of a polymer chain between a surface and the end of an AFM cantilever.