Molecules capable of walking like people now have the ability to carry goods.

A group of researchers, led by Associate Professor Ludwig Bartels of the University of California - Riverside, are the first to design a molecule capable of moving in a straight line on a flat surface . Now, the team has found a way to load this molecule, which is two molecules of CO ₂ , turning a nanoscale molecule capable of walking like this person into a molecular transport vehicle. .

"This is an unprecedented step in making molecular-sized machines," said Bartels, associate professor of chemistry and a member of the University of California-Riverside's Nanoscale Science and Engineering. . 'Our experiments have shown a means of reliably transporting molecules. This medium will be very important for future molecular-sized machines like the importance of trucks and conveyors in today's factories. '

The latest article that Associate Professor Bartel and his colleagues wrote on this topic created a great interest. This study was voted as one of the 'Top 25 physics research topics in 2005 ' in the American Institute of Physics magazine. This new molecular transport vehicle runs on a copper surface . It can lift and load up to 2 CO ₂ molecules on it and then transport them in a straight line.

'Carrying more cargo will reduce the speed of this molecule,' explains Bartels. 'Attaching 1 CO ₂ molecule makes this car need twice the energy for one step, and if this car transports 2 CO ₂ molecules, it will need approximately 3 times the energy, unlike humans carry heavy objects with one hand or two hands. ' Bartels explained that the use of machines at the atomic level would be the most effective fundamental method of making objects or transporting materials.

He said: 'This transport is like the way nature does: molecular truck transports carbon dioxide through a surface, like in the human body, oxygen hemoglobin molecule transports from the lungs and transports CO. ₂ to the lungs and in this way help us to breathe - and live. '

An illustration of the Ludwig Bartels lab about molecules has the ability to walk like a human when it transports packages with molecules.(Photo: University of California, Riverside)

However, Mr. Bartels also said that this study is still in its early stages.'In 2005, we invented a molecule capable of walking like humans, which moves in a straight line rather than jumping around in every direction like a conventional molecule does. And now, this molecule can carry goods. '

Mr. Bartels said the next development process will take some time.

'Ten years ago, a mobile phone could only make phone calls, no other functions. But now, mobile phones can use mp3 files, organize your work schedule, allow you to email and surf the web. ' Bartels said that the team will continue to pursue the next development step for this molecular transport vehicle. 'Then we will make the car go around the corners, move the goods in axles or emit photons to tell us where it is.'

The molecule capable of carrying this product is anthraquinone , a substance consisting of three benzene rings with one oxygen atom on each side. Anthraquinone organic compound is widely used in the pulp industry to transfer paper pulp cellulose. It is also the mother of a large group of dyes and pigments. Its chemical formula is C ₁₄ H ₈ O ₂ .

The University of California study uses scanning tunneling microscope in Bartels' laboratory. The microscope produces precise images of individual molecules. Experiments took place on a polished, polished, copper surface so that only selected molecules could lie on the surface. A single anthraquinone molecule appears in the Bartels microscope with nearly rectangular characteristics with slightly rounded edges.

Thanh Van

According to University of California-Riverside, Dong Nai Department of Science and Technology