9,10-Dithioanthracene
Encyclopedia
9,10-Dithioanthracene is the first molecule
ever to be able to "walk" in a straight line by, in effect, mimicking the bipedal motion
of a human being. It is an organic molecule
composed of a coal tar
derivative called anthracene
linked to a pair of sulfur-bearing functional groups
on either side (referred to as "linkers"), which serve as the molecule's "feet". When the compound is heated on a flat copper
surface, the linkers raise up, alternating from side to side, and propel the molecule forward.
During testing at UC Riverside's
Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering, the molecule took about 10,000 unassisted nano-scale
steps, moving in a straight line without requiring the assistance of nano-rails or nano-grooves for guidance. As described by the research team leader, assistant professor of chemistry Ludwig Bartels, "Similar to a human walking, where one foot is kept on the ground while the other moves forward and propels the body, our molecule always has one linker on a flat surface, which prevents the molecule from stumbling to the side or veering off course."
Researchers believe the project could lead to the development of molecular computers in which DTA or other similar molecules would function as nano-abacus
es.
Molecule
A molecule is an electrically neutral group of at least two atoms held together by covalent chemical bonds. Molecules are distinguished from ions by their electrical charge...
ever to be able to "walk" in a straight line by, in effect, mimicking the bipedal motion
Motion (physics)
In physics, motion is a change in position of an object with respect to time. Change in action is the result of an unbalanced force. Motion is typically described in terms of velocity, acceleration, displacement and time . An object's velocity cannot change unless it is acted upon by a force, as...
of a human being. It is an organic molecule
Organic compound
An organic compound is any member of a large class of gaseous, liquid, or solid chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon. For historical reasons discussed below, a few types of carbon-containing compounds such as carbides, carbonates, simple oxides of carbon, and cyanides, as well as the...
composed of a coal tar
Coal tar
Coal tar is a brown or black liquid of extremely high viscosity, which smells of naphthalene and aromatic hydrocarbons. Coal tar is among the by-products when coal iscarbonized to make coke or gasified to make coal gas...
derivative called anthracene
Anthracene
Anthracene is a solid polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon consisting of three fused benzene rings. It is a component of coal-tar. Anthracene is used in the production of the red dye alizarin and other dyes...
linked to a pair of sulfur-bearing functional groups
Thiol
In organic chemistry, a thiol is an organosulfur compound that contains a carbon-bonded sulfhydryl group...
on either side (referred to as "linkers"), which serve as the molecule's "feet". When the compound is heated on a flat copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
surface, the linkers raise up, alternating from side to side, and propel the molecule forward.
During testing at UC Riverside's
University of California, Riverside
The University of California, Riverside, commonly known as UCR or UC Riverside, is a public research university and one of the ten general campuses of the University of California system. UCR is consistently ranked as one of the most ethnically and economically diverse universities in the United...
Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering, the molecule took about 10,000 unassisted nano-scale
Nanometre
A nanometre is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one billionth of a metre. The name combines the SI prefix nano- with the parent unit name metre .The nanometre is often used to express dimensions on the atomic scale: the diameter...
steps, moving in a straight line without requiring the assistance of nano-rails or nano-grooves for guidance. As described by the research team leader, assistant professor of chemistry Ludwig Bartels, "Similar to a human walking, where one foot is kept on the ground while the other moves forward and propels the body, our molecule always has one linker on a flat surface, which prevents the molecule from stumbling to the side or veering off course."
Researchers believe the project could lead to the development of molecular computers in which DTA or other similar molecules would function as nano-abacus
Nano-abacus
The nano-abacus is a nano-sized abacus developed by IBM scientists. Stable rows made up of ten molecules act as the railings of the abacus. The beads are made up of fullerene and are pushed around by the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope. The nano-abacus has the potential to be used in a...
es.