A chemically powered autonomous molecular nanomotor

Over the past several years, as the researchers note, various research groups have developed an assortment of extremely tiny molecular motors, which have been used for purposes such as propelling tiny walkers, pumping fluids or even synthesizing materials.

But one thing they have all had in common is that they needed a constant source of food to produce power. In this new effort, the researchers have built a motor that can be fueled up and then sent on its way—it will run until it runs out of fuel, like an automobile. Thus, it represents the first autonomous nanomotor.

To build such a motor the researchers looked to mimic the way nature builds motors, such as those that are involved in ion transport or more specifically, the way proteins are involved in accelerating the reaction in the hydrolysis of ATP.

In their setup, their tiny motor is based on chemical synthesis—a device was created by assembling a hoop of benzylic amide macrocycle, a common component of a wide class of mechanically interlocked molecules—it was caused to move along a molecular track by reactions of Fmoc-Cl.

In the setup, the ring position on the track established the speed rate of the mechanism due to additions of the pyridine group onto the device. It also prevented the device from moving backwards.

The team readily acknowledges that their initial design is inefficient, quite slow and is not in a form that could be used for any real-world applications. But they do believe that after more work, their design will prove to be useful for applications as wide ranging as nanorobotics, artificial muscles, pumping systems or transporters.

They even see it going back to its roots by possibly serving as a transport pack for carrying fuel for other engines.