Self-propelled polymer nanomotors

Chemphyschem. 2009 Mar 23;10(5):770-3. doi: 10.1002/cphc.200800829.

Abstract

Polymer conformations: The picture shows instantaneous conformations of product molecules produced in a catalytic reaction at the head of a polymer chain. The extended (left) and collapsed (right) polymers correspond to chains in good and poor solvent conditions, respectively. The product molecule concentration gradient leads to a directed force on the polymer, so that it functions as a self-propelled nanomotor.