Despite the size of nanometers, this car has a number of advantages, that is emission free, have a four-wheel drive is quiet, and lightweight construction. The car that was developed by the Swiss federal laboratory researchers to technology and materials science (Empa) and colleagues from the Netherlands which consists of a single molecule that can be walked on four wheels, making a nearly straight trajectory on a copper surface.
This prototype car emblazoned the cover of the latest issue of the journal Nature. To carry out mechanical work, often people rely on the machine, which converts chemical, electrical energy, or heat into kinetic energy to move goods from point A to B.
Nature is also doing the same thing. Motor proteins in the cell, such as kinesin and muscle protein actin, perform the task. Usually the protein was rolling along another protein, like a train on the tracks, and in the process they set fire to adenosine triphosphate, the fuel cell chemistry.
A number of chemists trying to use the principles and concepts similar to design molecular transport machinery, which can perform specific tasks nanoscale. Now researchers at the University of Groningen and Empa successfully perform the crucial step in artificial nanoscale transport system.
They have synthesized a molecule of four units of the motor that rotates (the wheel), which can move forward in a controlled manner. "To do it, we do not need a rail car and fuel, only electricity," said Karl-Heinz Ernst, researchers from Empa. "This is the world's smallest electric cars, and this car also had a four-wheel drive."
Nature is also doing the same thing. Motor proteins in the cell, such as kinesin and muscle protein actin, perform the task. Usually the protein was rolling along another protein, like a train on the tracks, and in the process they set fire to adenosine triphosphate, the fuel cell chemistry.
A number of chemists trying to use the principles and concepts similar to design molecular transport machinery, which can perform specific tasks nanoscale. Now researchers at the University of Groningen and Empa successfully perform the crucial step in artificial nanoscale transport system.
They have synthesized a molecule of four units of the motor that rotates (the wheel), which can move forward in a controlled manner. "To do it, we do not need a rail car and fuel, only electricity," said Karl-Heinz Ernst, researchers from Empa. "This is the world's smallest electric cars, and this car also had a four-wheel drive."
Unfortunately, a car that measures just 4x2 nanometers, or billionth times smaller than a VW Golf car has to be replenished a half rotation of the wheel. Electricity must be inserted through the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope.
Another deficiency of the molecular design of this car are the wheels can only rotate in one direction. "There is no wheel to back off," said Ernst, who is also a lecturer at the University of Zurich. *** [SCIENCEDAILY | KORAN TEMPO 3708]
Another deficiency of the molecular design of this car are the wheels can only rotate in one direction. "There is no wheel to back off," said Ernst, who is also a lecturer at the University of Zurich. *** [SCIENCEDAILY | KORAN TEMPO 3708]
