German chemists have created the smallest gear: it consists of 71 atoms

The gear, developed by chemists from Friedrich Alexander University, measures just 1.6 nm. Gearbox

consists of two interconnectedcomponents of 71 atoms. The first component is a tryptycene molecule, the structure of which is similar to a propeller or bucket wheel. The second component is a flat fragment of the thioindigo molecule, similar to a small plate. 

Scientists say that when the "plate" is rotated 180°, the "propeller" rotates 120°. Thus, the gear ratio of the nanoreducer is 2:3.

Trypticene is a gray molecule, thioindigo is a gold molecule. Image: Henry Dube, FAU, Nature Chemistry

"Plate" and trypticene "propeller" are giveninto action with light. Under the influence of a light source, the gear components move in locked synchronous rotation. At the same time, as the researchers found, under the influence of heat, only the “propeller” begins to rotate, while the “plate” remains stationary and the gear wheel slips.

The researchers note that molecular analogsgears existed before, but so far no one has been able to control them. The authors of the development note that the gear wheel allows you to change the direction and speed of movements and connect the elements of the machine with each other. This component will help in the creation of a molecular machine that chemists in different countries are working on.

Earlier, Hi-Tech said that American biochemists created a rotor and an axis for a molecular engine from proteins.

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