Molecular Modeling on Artificial Molecular Motors

Synonyms

Catalytic bimetallic nanorods; Catalytic Janus particle; Nanomotors

Definition

Molecular motors are nanoscale objects capable of converting a certain energy source (chemical energy, photons, etc.) to mechanical work.

Background

One universal driving force for nanotechnology is miniaturization. The realization of nanometer scaled machineries needs nanometer scaled motors to provide mechanical power for nanofluidic and nanorobotic devices. Another underlying theme for nanotechnology is biomimetic. The fascinating biological world, as optimized by billions of years of evolution, provides answers of science and engineering challenges. In this regard, biomolecular motors play important roles in almost all important physiological processes in a cell, including transportation, actuation, nanostructure assembly, and disassembly. All the aforementioned functionalities are performed at the nanometer scale, thus molecular motors