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Rate Acceleration of Light‐Driven Rotary Molecular Motors
Author(s) -
Pollard M. M.,
Klok M.,
Pijper D.,
Feringa B. L.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.200601025
Subject(s) - molecular motor , acceleration , rotation (mathematics) , materials science , limiting , molecular machine , rotary engine , molecular magnets , mechanical engineering , key (lock) , nanotechnology , computer science , automotive engineering , physics , engineering , artificial intelligence , classical mechanics , composite material , magnetization , computer security , quantum mechanics , magnetic field
One of the key challenges in taking light‐driven unidirectional rotary motors from discovery to application is to increase the rate of rotation. Herein, we review our ongoing efforts to address this issue by meticulous improvement to the molecular design. To accelerate the rotary cycle, we have focused primarily on the rate‐limiting thermal isomerization step. This has been a fascinating and formidable objective, given that the first system we reported had a half‐life of over one week at room temperature! Our research has ultimately led to the construction of a unidirectional rotary molecular motor with a cycle 10 8 times faster than the original; that is, it can in principle function at 44 rotations per second.