Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 26, 2026
11:00
Hand Controlled Manipulation of Single Molecules via a Scanning Probe Microscope with a 3D Virtual Reality Interface
Published on: October 2, 2016
Rotation of a single molecule within a supramolecular bearing
Gimzewski1, Joachim, Schlittler
1J. K. Gimzewski, R. R. Schlittler, V. Langlais, IBM Research Division, Zurich Research Laboratory, Saumerstrasse 4, 8803 Ruschlikon, Switzerland. C. Joachim and H. Tang, CEMES-CNRS, 29 rue J. Marvig, Boite Postale 4347, 31055 Toulouse.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|July 24, 1998
Summary
Researchers visualized a single-molecule rotor in a supramolecular bearing. The rotor exists in rotating or immobilized states, with rotation energy barriers differing significantly from room temperature thermal energy.
Area of Science:
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
- Physical Chemistry
Background:
- Single-molecule machines are crucial for nanotechnology.
- Understanding molecular motion is key to designing functional nanomaterials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally visualize and verify the operation of a single-molecule rotor within a supramolecular bearing.
- To characterize the distinct states and energy landscapes governing molecular rotation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) for high-resolution imaging of single molecules.
- Observed molecules in two spatially defined states, separated by 0.26 nm.
- Performed calculations to determine the energy barrier for rotation in each state.
Main Results:
- Successfully visualized a single-molecule rotor functioning within a supramolecular bearing.
- Identified two distinct states: a rotating state and an immobilized state.
- Calculated energy barriers, finding them below thermal energy for rotation and above it for immobilization at room temperature.
Conclusions:
- The study provides experimental evidence for controlled single-molecule rotation in a designed supramolecular environment.
- The observed states and energy barriers highlight the potential for precise control over molecular motion.
- This work lays the foundation for developing sophisticated molecular machines and devices.
Related Concept Videos
02:06Newman Projections
Different notations are used to represent the three-dimensional structure of molecules on two-dimensional surfaces. One of the most commonly used representations is the dash-wedge formula. The dashed wedges, solid wedges, and the plane lines indicate the groups situated behind the plane, coming out of the plane, and in the plane, respectively.
The organic molecules rotate across the single bonds leading to numerous temporary three-dimensional structures of varying energy known as conformers.
The organic molecules rotate across the single bonds leading to numerous temporary three-dimensional structures of varying energy known as conformers.
02:25Molecules with Multiple Chiral Centers
Molecules that possess multiple chiral centers can afford a large number of stereoisomers. For instance, while some molecules like 2-butanol have one chiral center, defined as a tetrahedral carbon atom with four different substituents attached, several molecules like butane-2,3-diol have multiple chiral centers. A simple formula to predict the number of stereoisomers possible for a molecule with n chiral centers is 2n. However, there can be a lower number where some of the stereoisomers are...
02:18Fischer Projections
Learning to draw Fischer projections of molecules and understanding their relevance plays a crucial role in the visual depiction of organic molecules. A Fischer projection is a two-dimensional projection on a planar surface to simplify the three-dimensional wedge–dash representation of molecules. This is especially helpful in the case of molecules with multiple chiral centers that can be difficult to draw. Here, all the bonds of interest are represented as horizontal or vertical lines. While...
02:33Stereoisomerism of Cyclic Compounds
In this lesson, we delve into the role of ring conformation and its stability, which determines the spatial arrangement and, consequently, the molecular symmetry and stereoisomerism of cyclic compounds. 1,2-Dimethylcyclohexane is used as a case study to evaluate the possible number of stereoisomers. Here, given the multiple (n = 2) chiral centers, there are 2n = 4 possible configurations that lack a plane of symmetry, as the ring skeleton exists in a non-planar chair conformation. In addition,...
02:05Prochirality
The concept of prochirality leads to the nomenclature of the individual faces of a molecule and plays a crucial role in the enantioselective reaction. It is a concept where two or more achiral molecules react to produce chiral products. A typical process is the reaction of an achiral ketone to generate a chiral alcohol. Here, the achiral reactant reacts with an achiral reducing agent, sodium borohydride, to generate an equimolar mixture of the chiral enantiomers of the product. For example, an...
00:52¹H NMR of Conformationally Flexible Molecules: Temporal Resolution
At room temperature, the chair conformer of cyclohexane undergoes rapid ring flipping between two equivalent chair conformers at a rate of approximately 105 times per second. These two chair conformers are in equilibrium. The rapid ring flipping results in the interconversion of the axial proton to an equatorial proton and an equatorial to the axial proton. Such interconversions are too rapid and cannot be detected on the NMR timescale. Hence, the NMR spectrometer cannot distinguish between the...