One of the newest inventions in nanotechnology, nanogears hope to create molecular-machines. They will do so in the same exact way as regular machines - just, tiny.
(Source)
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Nanogears
What is one of the most basic tool for machines to move things. The answer: Gears.
One of the newest inventions in nanotechnology, nanogears hope to create molecular-machines. They will do so in the same exact way as regular machines - just, tiny.
In the past, nanogears were created by using a laser to carve the gears. This process took up to much time to be able to get nanogears cheaply, or use them efficiently for molecular machines. Columbia university solved this problem by making nanogears that can assemble themselves. The scientist did that by putting a sheet of metal, like copper against a polymer sheet. Due to the properties of polymer, it shrinks faster than the copper sheet when it cools, thus making evenly spaced teeth in the polymer, creating a nanogears.
(Source)
However, what is the point of having these gears if they do not turn or create change? Fullerene nanogears (1st video above) are turned when a beam is sent down the nanotube (which is what the nanogear is center is made up of) creating an electric field around the tube. "A positively charged atom is placed on one side of the nanotube, and a negatively charged atom on the other side. The electric field drags the nanotube around like a shaft turning". Source
One of the newest inventions in nanotechnology, nanogears hope to create molecular-machines. They will do so in the same exact way as regular machines - just, tiny.
(Source)
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