Issue 18, 2024

Molecular machines working at interfaces: physics, chemistry, evolution and nanoarchitectonics

Abstract

As a post-nanotechnology concept, nanoarchitectonics combines nanotechnology with advanced materials science. Molecular machines made by assembling molecular units and their organizational bodies are also products of nanoarchitectonics. They can be regarded as the smallest functional materials. Originally, studies on molecular machines analyzed the average properties of objects dispersed in solution by spectroscopic methods. Researchers' playgrounds partially shifted to solid interfaces, because high-resolution observation of molecular machines is usually done on solid interfaces under high vacuum and cryogenic conditions. Additionally, to ensure the practical applicability of molecular machines, operation under ambient conditions is necessary. The latter conditions are met in dynamic interfacial environments such as the surface of water at room temperature. According to these backgrounds, this review summarizes the trends of molecular machines that continue to evolve under the concept of nanoarchitectonics in interfacial environments. Some recent examples of molecular machines in solution are briefly introduced first, which is followed by an overview of studies of molecular machines and similar supramolecular structures in various interfacial environments. The interfacial environments are classified into (i) solid interfaces, (ii) liquid interfaces, and (iii) various material and biological interfaces. Molecular machines are expanding their activities from the static environment of a solid interface to the more dynamic environment of a liquid interface. Molecular machines change their field of activity while maintaining their basic functions and induce the accumulation of individual molecular machines into macroscopic physical properties molecular machines through macroscopic mechanical motions can be employed to control molecular machines. Moreover, research on molecular machines is not limited to solid and liquid interfaces; interfaces with living organisms are also crucial.

Graphical abstract: Molecular machines working at interfaces: physics, chemistry, evolution and nanoarchitectonics

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
19 feb. 2024
Accepted
08 apr. 2024
First published
09 apr. 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2024,26, 13532-13560

Molecular machines working at interfaces: physics, chemistry, evolution and nanoarchitectonics

K. Ariga, J. Song and K. Kawakami, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2024, 26, 13532 DOI: 10.1039/D4CP00724G

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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