Design and Synthesis of Non-equilibrium Systems

在这个由化学系高分子、超分子和纳米化学计划资助的项目中，西北大学的J·弗雷泽·斯托达特将开发人工分子机器(AMMS)的化学，这种机器(1)能够在刺激的影响下脱离热平衡，(2)能够执行功。最初的研究将集中在设计一种能够消耗燃料的原型超分子系统，从而导致其组成部分的相对单向运动。这种系统的一些能量输出可以通过开发一种方法来捕获处于高能状态的组件。实现这一目标的方法包括捕获分子线周围的环组件，然后使用刺激沿着线移动环。通过将这种“分子泵”嵌入膜中，有可能开发出一种人工跨膜离子泵，其功能类似于自然界分子机器的细胞膜运输。更广泛的影响包括让项目参与者有机会从事高度跨学科的研究，从而能够追求重大的科学挑战。本科生将受益于在经验丰富的研究人员的指导下接触跨学科科学。这项研究的目的是制造能够在其周围环境中执行工作的分子尺度系统，或者更确切地说，“人造分子机器”。除了可以执行非常复杂功能的生物系统外，目前还很少有这样的分子机械的例子。这个项目将增加我们关于如何设计复杂分子的知识，这些复杂分子可以利用化学能执行有用的功能。这类研究掌握着设计新型分子的关键，这些分子可以像肌肉纤维或酶、可寻址纳米材料、纳米机器人等一样发挥作用。

In this project funded by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, J. Fraser Stoddart of Northwestern University will develop the chemistry of artificial molecular machines (AMMs) that (1) are capable of moving away from thermal equilibrium under the influence of a stimulus and (2) can perform work. Initial investigations will focus on devising a prototypical supramolecular system that can consume fuel, resulting in the relative unidirectional motion of its constituent parts. Some of the energy output of such a system may be captured by developing a way to trap the components in a high energy state. The approach to this objective involves capturing a ring component around a molecular thread and then using the stimulus to move the ring along the thread. By embedding such a "molecular pump" into a membrane, an artificial transmembrane ion pump potentially could be developed, which would perform a function reminiscent of the cellular membrane transport of nature's molecular machines. The broader impacts involve giving the project participants an opportunity to work on highly interdisciplinary research that enables the pursuit of grand scientific challenges. Undergraduate students will benefit from exposure to the interdisciplinary science under the tutelage of experienced researchers. This research aims to produce molecular scale systems that can perform work on their surroundings, or rather, "artificial molecular machines." Outside of biological systems, which can perform very sophisticated functions, there are presently few examples of such molecular machinery. This project will increase our knowledge about how to design complex molecules that can use chemical energy to perform useful functions. Such research holds the key to devising new types of molecules that can behave like muscle fibers or enzymes, addressable nanomaterials, nanorobots, and possibly more.