Materials Group.

NanoTown Abstract                               

 Joseph Wei, Eric Formo, Richard Champion,
Xiaosong Ji, Lindsey Kato, Alissa Agnello


In the interest of creating nanomaterials that are both of scientific interest and potential means for relating science to the public, particularly at the molecular level, the research group at Rice University headed by James Tour has successfully fabricated structures analogous to those found in everyday life. 

Firstly his group effectively synthesized a whole range of monomeric, dimeric, and polymeric structures that resemble humans with varied features to connote age and profession on the height scale of 2 nm.  In the synthesis of nanotechnological organic materials (including nanocitizens), the coupling reactions between conjugated units are of key importance. The most popular of these reactions are the Suzuki cross coupling reaction and the Heck reaction. Another useful coupling reaction is the Wittig reaction, which bridges vinyl moieties.  Additionally, a newly developed coupling reaction uses a Bunz catalyst to create polyaryleneethynylenes polymers.

Once each nanocitizen has been synthesized, NanoTown can be constructed of its residents via self assembled monolayers (SAMs).  Self assembled monolayers are commonly used for the formation of a uniform layer of molecules, by taking advantage of the natural linkage or interaction of the SAMs to a surface. Understanding the interactions between the SAMs layer and the surface provides information about the science that controls formation, stability, and properties.

The surface on which NanoTown is built also plays an important role in the transportation of the nanocitizens.  Several generations of molecular vehicles were synthesized, including a motorized nanocar, containing a unidirectional motor that is powered through UV irradiation.  Each part of the vehicles has been designed to optimize mobility, by examining the interactions between the different parts of the vehicle and NanoTown’s gold surface.  Since the surface plays an important role in the existence of NanoTown, a few scanning probe microscopy-based techniques that provide atomic resolution of surface topography will be introduced.

A fantastic NanoTown has been created by the “bottom-up” method. The synthesis, self-assembly, and characterization of NanoTown show that complex systems can be built from simple atomic-level components. The ability to build NanoTown could revolutionize the way that almost everything is designed and brings the potential of nanotechnology and materials to more advanced applications.


References:

1. Chanteau, S. H.; Tour, J. M. J. Org. Chem. 2003, 68, 8750-8766.
2. Shirai, Y., Osgood, A. J., Zhao, Y., Yao, Y., Saudan, L., Yang, H., Yu-Hung, C., Alemany, L. B., Sasaki, T., Morin, J-F., Guerrero, J. M., Kelly, K. F., Tour, J. M. J. Am. Chem. Soc.2006, 128(14), 4854-4864.
3. Chaki, N. K.; Aslam, M.; Sharma, J.; Vijayamohanan, K. Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences-Chemical Sciences 2001, 113, 659-670.