Get a new type of nanomotors working from visible light




The procedure for obtaining a molecule i>

German scientists from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich created the first nanomotor , a source of energy for which the is visible sunlight. The motor runs at a frequency of 1 kHz, and is by far the fastest of the engine that powered the light energy.

In the 21st century, nanotechnology are developing very quickly. One objective of these technologies - obtaining nanomotors, molecular size devices, which can convert them to the incoming energy into mechanical motion. These motors in the future be able to participate in the processes of assembly devices and materials with unique properties that are not available with the current development of technology.

Over the past ten years in the laboratories had been received Nanomotors operating from chemical power sources of electricity and from light . However, the previous "models" of a motor demanded ultraviolet radiation. Objectives of the application of nanotechnology in everyday life require less high-energy sources - for example, the visible portion of sunlight.

"Described up to now, molecular motors, which are activated by light, ultraviolet radiation was used as a source of energy - says Dr. Henry Dube [Henry Dube] from the chemical laboratory of the University. - But this severely limits the possibility of their use as high-energy photons are dangerous to nanomachines in general ».

In his work scientists describe how they produced works nanomotor. Three-dimensional structure of the molecule changes when its components begin to interact with photons. The resulting molecule scientists gemitioindigo [hemithioindigo] is essentially photoswitch , made of two organic molecules fastened double carbon bond. When exposed to light the molecule begins to revolve around this ligament.

At that molecule required for rotation photons with lower energy, it turns extremely rapidly - about 1000 times per second at room temperature.

"We ourselves were surprised such a high-quality work of our motor, since many molecular motors are not stable rotation in one direction, but sometimes are turned and the other - said Dube. - Given the complexity of the procedures for obtaining such a molecule, it is surprising that we have achieved such good results the first time ».

Although, of course, beneficial to the working mechanisms of the size of a molecule is still far away. It is necessary to develop simple procedures for these motors, their integration into the mechanisms and overcome many other technical difficulties.

Source: geektimes.ru/post/263212/