How Does a Single Molecule Walk on Two Legs?

[Mk]

A single molecule has been made to walk on two
legs. Ludwig Bartels and his colleagues at the University of
California at Riverside, guided by theorist Talat Rahman of Kansas
State University, created a molecule---called 9,10-dithioanthracene
(DTA)---with two "feet" configured in such a way that only one foot
at a time can rest on the substrate. Activated by heat or the nudge
of a scanning tunneling microscope tip, DTA will pull up one foot,
put down the other, and thus walk in a straight line across a flat
surface. The planted foot not only supplies support but also keeps
the body of the molecule from veering or stumbling off course. In
tests on a standard copper surface, such as the kind used to
manufacture microchips, the molecule has taken 10,000 steps without
faltering. According to Bartels (ludwig.bartels@ucr.edu,
951-827-2041), possible uses of an atomic-sized walker include
guidance of molecular motion for molecule-based information storage
or even computation. DTA moves along a straight line as if placed
onto railroad tracks without the need to fabricate any nano-tracks;
the naturally occurring copper surface is sufficient. The
researchers now aim at developing a DTA-based molecule that can
convert thermal energy into directed motion like a molecular-sized
ratchet. (Kwon et al., Physical Review Letters, upcoming article;
text at www.aip.org/physnews/select;[/URL] see movie at
[PLAIN]www.chem.ucr.edu/groups/bartels/)[/URL][/quote]
:cry: :smile: :smile: :approve: :bugeye: :biggrin: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :!) :redface: :cool: o:) :eek: :-p

 

[El Hombre Invisible]

Next up, molecular-sized whippets, flat-caps and walking leads. The goal to fit all of Yorkshire in a microchip is almost over.

 

[Gokul43201]

Really neat stuff !

 

[Ivan Seeking]

The researchers now aim at developing a DTA-based molecule that can convert thermal energy into directed motion like a molecular-sized
ratchet.

Maxwell's demon walks.

 

[Evo]

Incredible.

 

[hypnagogue]

Maybe the walking molecules can ride around in molecular cars if they get tired.

Scientists Build Tiny Vehicles for Molecular Passengers

Scientists at Rice University have built molecular vehicles so small that more than 20,000 of them could sit side-by-side on a human hair.

The fleet consists of nanocars, nanotrucks capable of carrying small-molecule payloads, and trimers that pivot on their three axes. All of them roll on buckyballs, which are 60-atom, soccer-ball-shaped spheres of pure carbon. Each axis pivots up and down independently to allow the vehicles to negotiation atomic potholes and mounds.

The work, which was first described earlier this month in the online version of the journal Nano Letters, is the fruit of more than eight years of research led by Prof. James M. Tour into systems that could be used to build structures molecule-by-molecule.

"This is it, you can't make anything smaller to transport atoms around," Professor Tour said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/21/technology/21cnd-nano.html

 

[Ivan Seeking]

...if they get tired

Booooooo booooooo bah! [throws tomato] booooooo

 

[Mk]

ooooooo booooooo bah! [throws much larger and excessively heavy fruit such as a pumpkin or a watermelon] booooooo

 

[Archon]

ooooooo booooooo bah! [throws much larger and excessively heavy fruit such as a pumpkin or a watermelon] booooooo

Pumpkins are a fruit? What?

 

[matthyaouw]

I wonder how fast they go...

 

[El Hombre Invisible]

Molecular races... that's what the world needs. We can bet on the winner.

 

[Danger]

What's a microgram of gas cost these days?

 

[rachmaninoff]

What's a microgram of gas cost these days?

Probably 6$ or more.


(if by "gas" you me $^3He$ gas, of course)

 

[Danger]

I meant regular unleaded, but I think you got the price about right.

 

[cronxeh]

Well that's great. Nature had dynein, kinesin, and myosin for some time now.



It walks alright