NIRT: Synthesis and Control of Molecular Machines

Ccr-0210176 Crommie，Michael本提案是对NSF 01-157 NIRT类纳米科学与工程倡议的响应。该项目的主要目标是开发和表征纳米级的机械设备。这将通过创造新的、有目的地按分子方式设计的合成分子机器来实现。为了实现这一目标，一支跨学科的研究团队已经聚集在一起，他们将从事以下活动：1)化学合成具有定制性质的新分子，用作纳米机械部件；2)将新合成的分子附着到准备好的表面并展示机械功能；3)将光刻MEMS技术与碳生长技术相结合，以碳纳米管制造机电驱动的分子马达。这项研究有望产生两类新的功能分子组装。第一种涉及化学工程分子，设计时考虑到了特定的机械功能。这项研究将得到强大的化学合成努力的支持，该努力旨在开发能够在外部刺激触发时经历构象变化的新型分子。第二类涉及多壁碳纳米管工程，以形成一种新的机械-分子技术的基础。这一努力有望在展示第一个功能性纳米管马达时达到顶峰。

CCR-0210176Crommie, MichaelThis proposal was received in response to the Nanoscale Science and Engineering initiative, NSF 01-157, category NIRT. The main objective of this project is to develop and characterize mechanical devices at the nanoscale. This will be performed through the creation of new, synthetic molecular machines purposefully designed in a molecule-by-molecule fashion. In order to achieve this goal an interdisciplinary team of researchers has been gathered that will engage in the following activities:1) chemically synthesize new molecules having tailored properties to be used as nano-machine components, 2) adhere newly synthesized molecules to prepared surfaces and demonstrate mechanical functionality, 3) combine photolithographic MEMS technology with carbon growth techniques to create electro-mechanically actuated molecular motors from carbon nanotubes. Two new categories of functional molecular assemblies are expected to result from this research. The first involves chemically engineered molecules designed with specific mechanical functions in mind. This research thrust will be supported by a strong chemical synthesis effort aimed at the development of new classes of molecules able to undergo conformational changes when triggered by an outside stimulus. The second category involves the engineering of multi-wall carbon nanotubes to form the basis of a new mechano-molecular technology. This effort is expected to culminate in the demonstration of the first functional nanotube motor.