Fullerenes: Multitask Components in Molecular Machinery

Abstract

Molecular machines are molecular-scale devices that carry out predetermined tasks derived from molecular motion. This Minireview illustrates how fullerenes can be used as multitask building blocks in molecular machinery, providing new perspectives for fullerenes. Indeed, C(60) can be applied as a photo- and electroactive stopper owing to its size, as a probe for molecular motion as a result of its well-defined physicochemical properties, and to induce motion through pi-pi interactions. Such molecular motion can be employed to modulate light-driven electron-transfer events, extending the potential applications of molecular machines to the typical fields of application of fullerenes.

Carbon Nanomaterials: Efficacy and Safety for Nanomedicine

“…Fullerenes have attracted considerable attention in various fields of science [21]. Fullerenes are composed entirely of carbon in the form of a hollow sphere, ellipsoid, or tube.…”

Molecular machines operated by light

“…In principle, molecular machines can be designed starting from several kinds of molecular and supramolecular systems [31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47], including DNA [39,40]. However, for the reasons mentioned below, most of the systems constructed so far are based on interlocked molecular species such as rotaxanes and related species.…”

“…In fact, the majority of artificial molecular machines reported so far [31][32][33][34][35][36][38][39][40][43][44][45][46][47] are powered by chemical energy, most typically supplied by acid-base reactions. It would therefore be interesting to identify viable strategies for using light to operate 'stand alone' pH-driven molecular machines.…”

“…Among the systems reported are molecular tweezers [9], propellers [10], rotors [11], turnstiles [12], gyroscopes [13,14], gears [15], brakes [16], a molecular pedal [17], ratchets [18], rotary motors [19], shuttles [20], elevators [21], muscles [22], valves [23], processive artificial enzymes [24], walkers [25][26][27], vehicles [28], and catalytic self-propelled micro-and nano-objects [29,30]. Several excellent reviews [31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46] and a monograph [47] dealing with artificial molecular machines and motors are available.…”

Direct patterning of a cyclotriveratrylene derivative for directed self-assembly of C60

“…[1][2][3][4] For example, C 60 is a good electrical conductor at the nanoscale, nearly as good as copper metal. C 60 is also a good thermal conductor and is one of the strongest materials known, being 100 times stronger than steel but one-sixth the weight.…”