MOLECULAR MACHINES The 2016 Nobel Prize for chemistry was awarded to Jean-Pierre Sauvage from the University of Strasbourg, France; Sir Fraser Stoddart of Northwestern University, United States and Bernard Feringa of the University of Groningen, Netherlands. The three scientists collaborated together in order to create and synthesize ‘molecular machines.’ These special molecules are a thousand times smaller than a hair (measured in nanometers) and are able to adopt a machine-like function once exposed to an energy source. The energy source applied may be in the form of light, hence once the molecules encounter photons (packets of light energy) these molecules work as an electric pump. Research in the field of ‘molecular machines’ was born in the 1980s when Sauvage was able to synthesize 2 interlaced molecules, connected in such a way as to resemble 2 links in a chain. Usually, such molecules are connected via covalent bonds, which involves the sharing of electrons, however Sauvage’s research team linked these 2 molecules by a mechanical chain using a copper ion. Thus their form and structure enables these molecules to move freely around each other, which enhances their function as a molecular machine. Stoddart continued to contribute to the synthesis of molecular machines with the creation of 2 interlaced molecules which enables one of the molecules to jump forwards and backwards, acting as a ‘molecular elevator’ as described by Ramström from the Nobel prize committee. Moreover, in 1999, Feringa constructed the first molecular motor. This motor is compromised by 2 molecules which are able to rotate around each other, resembling 2 motor blades. The function of this motor is stimulated by exposure to an Ultra Violet light source. This motor is not the only creation Feringa has contributed to, he was also able to create ‘car’ like molecules which are able to move. Currently, such ‘car’ molecules may be viewed in motion within a Petri dish by microscopes, such as the scanning tunneling microscope which works at an atomic level. Such molecular ‘cars’ are given the term ‘NanoCars.’
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