Mini Rotors

Rotors are needed for a great variety of technical applications. Scientists at the University of Graz have developed one existing of a single molecule. Photo: Pixabay

Researchers at the University of Graz can control the rotation of individual molecules with precision

Researchers at the University of Graz have come one step closer to producing nano machines. Experimental physicist Leonhard Grill and his team have succeeded in developing an extremely miniaturised rotor in collaboration with colleagues from Rice University in the US. “We have successfully rotated a molecule with a size of just one nanometre on a silver surface with the utmost precision”, says Grill. The special interaction of the molecules with the surface ensures a precisely defined rotation in the desired direction, and only in this direction, clockwise or counter-clockwise. This stands in contrast to random rotation in both directions, which is prescribed by the laws of thermodynamics. “Our achievement is therefore much more precise and efficient than all previous rotors made of single molecules”, says the researcher from the University of Graz. Furthermore, the scientists were able to weaken the axis of rotation of the mini rotor with individual silver atoms so that the molecule moves sideways. This behaviour was clarified in cooperation with theoretical chemists from the University of Graz. “We have thus demonstrated the importance of a chemically precisely defined axis for the stability of such a miniaturised rotor”, says Grill. Rotors that work with precision are expected to be of central importance for the development of future nano-machines.
The work was carried out within the framework of a project financed by the EU programme “Future Emerging Technologies” and was published in the current issue of the journal “Nature Communications”

Publication:
G. J. Simpson, V. Garcia-Lopez, A. D. Boese, J. M. Tour, and L. Grill
„How to Control Single-Molecule Rotation“
Nature Communications, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12605-8 (2019)

Details on Leonhard Grill's research: www.nanograz.com

A single molecule can be rotated in a targeted manner. Photo: University of Graz / Grill

Dagmar Eklaude

Related news

Semester abroad without barriers: University of Graz wins award for promoting inclusion

The University of Graz has been awarded the Internationalization Award for its new inclusion initiative. Students with fewer opportunities now also receive financial support for their semester abroad outside Europe.

Fair distribution: Researchers determine just greenhouse gas budgets for all EU regions

Ten years ago, on 12 December 2015, the Paris Climate Agreement was signed at the UN Climate Conference. In order to limit global warming to well below two degrees, only a certain amount of CO2 may be emitted worldwide. While the focus was originally on national emission targets, more than 200 subnational regions and almost 300 cities have now adopted their own targets. But how many emissions are they fairly entitled to? Researchers at the University of Graz have now developed transparent criteria for fair distribution at the subnational level for the first time and determined corresponding greenhouse gas budgets for all European regions. The paper was published today in the scientific journal Nature Communications.

Chemical Christmas show at the University of Graz: An explosive evening at the Schauspielh

At the beginning of December, the University of Graz transformed the theater into a laboratory: as part of “Chemical Life,” teacher training students staged a chemical Christmas show for Styrian school classes—complete with ethanol rockets, nitrogen snow, and glowing effects. An evening designed to inspire interest in studying chemistry.

Train by train: Koralm railway accelerates exchange between the Universities

Lectures at the University of Klagenfurt in the morning, seminars at the University of Graz in the afternoon: Austria's longest tunnel and a journey time of around 45 minutes make it easy. The Koralm railway increases the speed of networking between the two university locations. The collaboration builds on existing cooperation - for example in the areas of teacher training, Slavic studies and as employers, the universities are well coordinated.