Nanocars with Permanent Dipoles: Preparing for the Second International Nanocar Race

Abstract

With the desire to synthesize surface-rolling molecular machines that can be translated and rotated with extreme precision and speed, we have synthesized a series of five nanocars. Each structure features a permanent dipole moment, generated by an N,N-dimethylamino- moiety on one end of the car coupled with a nitro group on the other end. These cars are designed to be stimulated with an electric field gradient from a scanning probe microscopy tip. The nanocars all possess unexplored combinations of structural features: tert-butyl wheels, short alkyne chassis, and combination sets of wheels including one set of tert-butyl wheels and another set of larger adamantane wheels on the same car. Each of these features needs to be assessed as preparation for the second International Nanocar Race that is taking place in 2022.

Principles of Molecular Machines at the Single-Molecule Scale

“…Through integrating the molecular motors into the large complex molecular structure, the molecular cars have been constructed. ,− For instance, through utilizing the molecular motors based on the overcrowded alkenes as the molecular wheels, the molecular cars can be realized (Figure b). Although in the solution system the molecular motors are actuated through sequential UV-light and thermal excitation steps, the movements of the molecular cars are proved to be triggered simply by the tunneling current (Figure a) .…”

Collective movement and thermal stability of fullerene clusters on the graphene layer

“…1 Various investigations have been conducted on the surface motion of individual molecules during the recent years. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] These studies include the mobility of small molecules or large organic ones such as artificial nano-machines on different surfaces. [10][11][12][13][14][15][16] Such molecular machines (named nanocars) are capable of carrying payloads on the surface.…”

Ab Inito Exploration of Nanocars as Potential Corrosion Inhibitors

“…To our knowledge there is a lack of studies vis-à-vis the possible exploitation of NanoCars for corrosion protection purposes [25][26][27][28]. These mesmerizing molecules were used to organize in 2017 the Nanocar Race [29] -a vastly attention-grabbing scientific event that attracted massive public curiosity [30].…”

“…NanoCars are molecular machines capable to transfer efficiently with some kind of control and directionality at the nanoscale level onto metal surface by using an advanced scanning tunnelling microscope [31] [30]. In a recently published study by the group of Prof. Tour they reported the synthesis of 4 different newly synthesized NanoCars that own a permanent dipole moment (caused by an N,N-dimethyl amino-moiety on one end of the car fixed with a nitro group on the other end) [28]. These NanoCars movement onto surface can be stimulated by the electric field gradient from a scanning probe microscopy tip.…”

“…These NanoCars movement onto surface can be stimulated by the electric field gradient from a scanning probe microscopy tip. In their new design, the NanoCar have the following structural features: tert-butyl wheels, short alkyne chassis, and combination sets of wheels including one set of tert-butyl wheels and another set of larger adamantane wheels on the same car [28]. These molecules are planned to be used in the upcoming second International Nanocar Race (in 2022).…”