4.1 Nanocars and the development of molecular manufacturing

In the late decades of the 20th century, the field of molecular manufacturing developed as materials and methodsarose that facilitated development of new, useful designs. In this chapter, we take a look at the development of molecular manufacturing,where it stands today, and its some aspects of its future. Since the invention of the Scanning Tunneling Microscope in 1981, molecularmanufacturing has reached various milestones that we will discuss in this section. In addition, we will take a look at a specific moleculethat was synthesized by Rice University scientists that incorporated previously established molecular designs and mechanisms. This moleculetakes molecular manufacturing further down the path of development.

In 2005, Rice University scientists Dr. James Tour, Kevin Kelly, and others built upon established milestones toreach new understandings of engineered, deliberate molecular motion. The team of scientists designed a molecular structureconsisting of a chassis and axle system covalently bound to four separate Buckminsterfullerene (C60) molecules (figure 1) thatfacilitates rolling translational motion. The synthesis, structure, mobility, and observation of the nanocar will be discussed insubsequent sections of this chapter. But first, lets take a look at the developments in molecular manufacturing preceding the discovery ofnanocar 1.

A brief review of early advances in nanoscale design

To understand how the nanocar fits into the larger scheme of molecular manufacturing, we will review someinstrumental developments in molecular manufacturing that jump-started the field. We will also introduce a couple of molecular componentsthat facilitate the design of mobile molecules—bearings and axles.

Scanning tunneling microscopy introduces a new frontier