Award Abstract #0210176
NIRT: Synthesis and Control of Molecular Machines

NSF Org:	CCF Division of Computer and Communication Foundations
Initial Amendment Date:	August 9, 2002
Latest Amendment Date:	July 3, 2007
Award Number:	0210176
Award Instrument:	Continuing grant
Program Manager:	Chitaranjan Das CCF Division of Computer and Communication Foundations CSE Directorate for Computer & Information Science & Engineering
Start Date:	July 15, 2002
Expires:	June 30, 2008 (Estimated)
Awarded Amount to Date:	$1354000
Investigator(s):	Michael Crommie crommie@berkeley.edu (Principal Investigator) Alex Zettl (Co-Principal Investigator) Jean M. J. Frechet (Co-Principal Investigator)
Sponsor:	University of California-Berkeley Sponsored Projects Office BERKELEY, CA 94704 510/642-8109
NSF Program(s):	SPECIAL PROJECTS - CCF, CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, NANOSCALE: INTRDISCPL RESRCH T
Field Application(s):	0000912 Computer Science
Program Reference Code(s):	OTHR, HPCC, 9251, 9218, 1674, 1589, 0000
Program Element Code(s):	2878, 1710, 1674

ABSTRACT

CCR-0210176

Crommie, Michael

This proposal was received in response to the Nanoscale Science and

Engineering initiative, NSF 01-157, category NIRT. The main objective of this project is to develop and characterize mechanical devices at the nanoscale. This will be performed through the creation of new, synthetic molecular machines purposefully designed in a molecule-by-molecule fashion. In order to achieve this goal an interdisciplinary team of researchers has been gathered that will engage in the following

activities:

1) chemically synthesize new molecules having tailored properties to be used as nano-machine components, 2) adhere newly synthesized molecules to prepared surfaces and demonstrate mechanical functionality, 3) combine photolithographic MEMS technology with carbon growth techniques to create electro-mechanically actuated molecular motors from carbon nanotubes. Two new categories of functional molecular assemblies are expected to result from this research. The first involves chemically engineered molecules designed with specific mechanical functions in mind. This research thrust will be supported by a strong chemical synthesis effort aimed at the development of new classes of molecules able to undergo conformational changes when triggered by an outside stimulus. The second category involves the engineering of multi-wall carbon nanotubes to form the basis of a new mechano-molecular technology. This effort is expected to culminate in the demonstration of the first functional nanotube motor.

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH

A. Kirakosian, M. J. Comstock, Jongweon Cho, and M. F. Crommie. "Molecular commensurability at a metal surface: STM study of azobenzene on Au(111)," Physical Review B, v.71, 2005, p. 113409.

A. Kis, K. Jensen, S. Aloni, W. Mickelson, and A. Zettl. "Interlayer Forces and Ultralow Sliding Friction in Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes," Physical Review Letters, v.97, 2006, p. 025501.

Chris Regan, Shaul Aloni, Kenny Jensen, R. O. Ritchie, Alex Zettl. "Nanocrystal Powered Nanomotor," Nanoletters, 2005, p. 1730.

K. Jensen, C¸ . Girit, W. Mickelson, and A. Zettl. "Tunable Nanoresonators Constructed from Telescoping Nanotubes," Phys. Rev. Lett., v.96, 2006, p. 21550.

M. J. Comstock, Jongweon Cho, A. Kirakosian, and M. F. Crommie. "Manipulation of Azobenzene Molecules on Au(111) using Scanning Tunneling Microscopy," Physical Review B, 2005, p. 1534.

M. J. Comstock, Niv Levy, A. Kirakosian, J. Cho, F. Lauterwasser, J. H. Harvey, D. A. Strubbe, J. M.J. Fréchet, D. Trauner, S. G. Louie, and M. F. Crommie. "Reversible Photomechanical Switching of Individual Engineered Molecules at a Surface," Physical Review Letters, v.99, 2007, p. 038.

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