Advancing nanoscale self-assembly: placing and anchoring many molecules capable of mechanical work onto a surface

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Researchers from the University of Bologna, Italy, University of Birmingham, UK, Paul Sabatier University in France and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), US, have come up with a technique for arranging molecular machines on a solid surface. The team used a cospreading strategy to create layers of chemically switchable rotaxane molecules on indium tin oxide or calcium fluoride substrates.

This work advancing nanoscale self-assembly. They place and anchor many dumbell molecules capable of mechanical work onto a surface. They have created more complex molecules (some powered and triggered with light) which might be similarly anchored in future work.