One-way rotation of a molecule-rotor driven by a shot noise

Nanoscale. 2014 Mar 7;6(5):2793-9. doi: 10.1039/c3nr05814j. Epub 2014 Jan 27.

Abstract

The shot noise of a tunneling current passing through a molecule-motor can sustain a one-way rotation when populating the molecular excited states by tunneling inelastic excitations. We demonstrate that a ratchet-like ground state rotation potential energy curve is not necessary for the rotation to occur. A relative shift in energy difference between the maxima of this ground state and the minima of the excited states is the necessary condition to get to a unidirectional rotation. The rotor speed of rotation and its rotation direction are both controlled by this shift, indicating the necessity of a careful design of both the ground and excited states of the next generation of molecule-motors to be able to generate a motive power at the nanoscale.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't