Electrically driven molecular motor takes cue from Archimedes’ screw
Researchers have built a molecular motor inspired by the Archimedes’ screw, an ancient machine designed to move water. The new device is electrically driven and can spin in either direction.
Its rotation also increased electrical conductivity by up to 100 times, according to the study. This coupling between mechanical motion and charge transport could help researchers develop components for molecular electronics, where individual molecules perform electronic functions.