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Nanolocomotion—Catalytic Nanomotors and Nanorotors
Author(s) -
Mirkovic Tihana,
Zacharia Nicole S.,
Scholes Gregory D.,
Ozin Geoffrey A.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.200901340
Subject(s) - nanotechnology , foundation (evidence) , simple (philosophy) , function (biology) , synthetic biology , task (project management) , computer science , biochemical engineering , engineering , materials science , systems engineering , biology , political science , bioinformatics , philosophy , epistemology , evolutionary biology , law
Nature's nanomachines, built of dynamically integrated biochemical components, powered by energy‐rich biochemical processes, and designed to perform a useful task, have evolved over millions of years. They provide the foundation of all living systems on our planet today. Yet synthetic nanomotors, driven by simple chemical reactions and which could function as building blocks for synthetic nanomachines that can perform useful tasks, have been discovered only in the last few years. Why did it take so long to power‐up a myriad of synthetic nanostructures from their well‐known static states to new and exciting dynamic ones of the kind that abound in nature? This article will delve into this disconnect between the world of biological and abiological nanomotors, then take a look at some recent developments involving chemically powered nanoscale motors and rotors, and finally try to imagine: what's next for nanolocomotion?