Nanodragster
Encyclopedia
The Nanodragster, dubbed the world's smallest hot rod
, is a molecular nanocar
. The design improves on previous nanocar designs and is a step towards creating molecular machines. The name comes from the nanocar's resemblance to a dragster
, as it has a shorter axle with smaller wheels in the front and a larger axle with larger wheels in the back.
Richard E. Smalley Institute Nanoscale Science and Technology by the team of James Tour
, Kevin Kelly and other colleagues involved in its research. The previous nanocar developed was 3 to 4 nanometers which was a little over a strand of DNA
and was around 20,000 times thinner than a human hair. These nanocars were built with carbon buckyballs for their four wheels, which made it need 400 °F (204.4 °C) to get it moving. On the other hand, a nanocar which utilized p-carborane
wheels moves as if on ice. Such observations led to the production of nanocars which had both wheel designs.
molecules, or buckyballs, composed of sixty carbon atoms each, which are attracted to a dragstrip that is made up of a very fine layer of gold
. This design also enabled Tour’s team to operate the device at lower temperatures.
Hot rod
Hot rods are typically American cars with large engines modified for linear speed. The origin of the term "hot rod" is unclear. One explanation is that the term is a contraction of "hot roadster," meaning a roadster that was modified for speed. Another possible origin includes modifications to or...
, is a molecular nanocar
Nanocar
The nanocar is a molecule designed in 2005 at Rice University by a group headed by Professor James Tour. Despite the name, the original nanocar does not contain a molecular motor, hence, it is not really a car...
. The design improves on previous nanocar designs and is a step towards creating molecular machines. The name comes from the nanocar's resemblance to a dragster
Dragster
Dragster may refer to*Dragster, a rock band of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal era.*Dragster, a video game released in 1980.*Dragster, a term referring to a custom-built vehicle used in drag racing....
, as it has a shorter axle with smaller wheels in the front and a larger axle with larger wheels in the back.
Development
The nanocar was developed at Rice University’sRice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
Richard E. Smalley Institute Nanoscale Science and Technology by the team of James Tour
James Tour
James M. Tour is a synthetic organic chemist, specializing in nanotechnology.-Career:He is well-known for his work in molecular electronics and molecular switching molecules. He has also been involved in other work, such as the creation of a nanocar and NanoKids, an interactive learning DVD to...
, Kevin Kelly and other colleagues involved in its research. The previous nanocar developed was 3 to 4 nanometers which was a little over a strand of DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
and was around 20,000 times thinner than a human hair. These nanocars were built with carbon buckyballs for their four wheels, which made it need 400 °F (204.4 °C) to get it moving. On the other hand, a nanocar which utilized p-carborane
Carborane
A carborane is a cluster composed of boron and carbon atoms. Like many of the related boranes, these clusters are polyhedra and are similarly classified as closo-, nido-, arachno-, hypho-, etc...
wheels moves as if on ice. Such observations led to the production of nanocars which had both wheel designs.
Specifications
The Nanodragster is 50,000 times thinner than a human hair and has a top speed of 0.014 millimeters per hour (0.0006 in/h). The rear wheels are spherical fullereneFullerene
A fullerene is any molecule composed entirely of carbon, in the form of a hollow sphere, ellipsoid, or tube. Spherical fullerenes are also called buckyballs, and they resemble the balls used in association football. Cylindrical ones are called carbon nanotubes or buckytubes...
molecules, or buckyballs, composed of sixty carbon atoms each, which are attracted to a dragstrip that is made up of a very fine layer of gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
. This design also enabled Tour’s team to operate the device at lower temperatures.
Future use
The nanodragster and other nano-machines are designed for use in transporting items. The technology can be used in manufacturing computer circuits and electronic components, or in conjunction with pharmaceuticals inside the human body. Tour also speculated that the knowledge gained from the nanocar research would help build efficient catalytic systems in the future.See also
- Molecular motor
- Molecular propellerMolecular propellerMolecular propeller is a molecule that can propel fluids when rotated, due to its special shape that is designed in analogy to macroscopic propellers : it has several molecular-scale blades attached at a certain pitch angle around the circumference of a shaft, aligned along the rotational...
- NanoputianNanoputianNanoputians are a series of organic molecules whose structural formulae appear human. James Tour et al. designed and synthesized these compounds in 2003 as a part of a sequence of chemical education for young students...
- Synthetic molecular motorsSynthetic molecular motorsSynthetic molecular motors are molecular machines capable of rotation under energy input. Although the term "molecular motor" has traditionally referred to a naturally occurring protein that induces motion , some groups also use the term when referring to non-biological, non-peptide synthetic...