A NANO-CHEMO-MECHANICAL ACTUATOR BASED ON ARTIFICIAL MOLECULAR

The success of future molecule driven actuators most likely lies in the development of artificial molecular motors because of their ability to provide large forces from IOW voltage inputs while also featuring bistable actuation characteristics and molecular design flexibility. With these advantages in mind, we have developed a mechanical device utilizing the force produced fiom the relative movement of artificial molecular motors - rotaxanes- in conjunction with a hybrid top-dowdbottomup fabrication approach. This process has produced insight into the promise but also the limitations of moleculedriven actuators which inspires redirected efforts for an eventually optimized new class of multiscale mechanical, optical, and medical devices.