University of Augsburg researchers develop single-molecule motor

An international research team, including physicists from the University of Augsburg, has developed a molecular motor based on a single molecule that mimics the principle of the Archimedean screw. The motor is powered by electric current and utilizes a helicene molecule, which possesses a spiral structure.

When a specific voltage is applied, the molecule rotates, and its electrical conductivity increases significantly. Researchers found that once a certain rotational speed is reached, the current flow can increase by up to 100 times. The direction of rotation can also be controlled electrically.

Using quantum mechanical computer simulations, the team determined that the surge in current occurs because the rotation brings the molecule into positions where electrons can flow through more easily. The findings have been published in the journal Nature.