Home > Press > Dartmouth researchers create new nano switch
![]()  | 
| Ivan Aprahamian (photo by Joseph Mehling '69) | 
Abstract:
In nanotechnology, mastering the machinery of chemical bonds is tricky business - and the fact that they are tiny, at the molecular level, is just one hurdle. Dartmouth researcher Ivan Aprahamian and his team have developed a new molecular switch that changes its configuration as a function of the pH of the environment.
This discovery, using synthetic materials, mimics natural, biological molecular motors such as the F1-ATPase. This might someday help lead to targeted drug delivery systems, molecular-level data storage, and molecular electronics, important objectives in nanotechnology. 
The study appeared in December online issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society. 
"The switching process takes place via a rotation around the carbon-nitrogen double bond, and it turns out that our system is the first chemically activated rotary switch that relies on rotation around a double bond as opposed to rotation around a single bond," said Aprahamian, an assistant professor of chemistry, who explains that rotation around a single bond yields multiple conformations, whereas rotation around a double bond affords two configurations. 
"Light-induced configurational switches are known and have been used in various applications. Ours is chemically driven, similar to biological motors, which can lead to new possibilities in nanotechnology". 
Aprahamian's co-author on the paper is Shainaz Landge, a post-doctoral researcher at Dartmouth.
More information: Journal of the American Chemical Society: pubs.acs.org/journal/jacsat
####
About Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College educates the most promising students and prepares them for a lifetime of learning and of responsible leadership, through a faculty dedicated to teaching and the creation of knowledge.
For more information, please click here
Contacts:
Media Contact: 
Sue Knapp 
(603) 646-3661
Copyright © Dartmouth College
If you have a comment, please Contact us.Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.
| Related News Press | 
News and information
    Researchers develop molecular qubits that communicate at telecom frequencies October 3rd, 2025
    Next-generation quantum communication October 3rd, 2025
    "Nanoreactor" cage uses visible light for catalytic and ultra-selective cross-cycloadditions October 3rd, 2025
Possible Futures
    Spinel-type sulfide semiconductors to operate the next-generation LEDs and solar cells For solar-cell absorbers and green-LED source October 3rd, 2025
Nanomedicine
    New molecular technology targets tumors and simultaneously silences two ‘undruggable’ cancer genes August 8th, 2025
    New imaging approach transforms study of bacterial biofilms August 8th, 2025
    Cambridge chemists discover simple way to build bigger molecules – one carbon at a time June 6th, 2025
    Electrifying results shed light on graphene foam as a potential material for lab grown cartilage June 6th, 2025
Discoveries
    Researchers develop molecular qubits that communicate at telecom frequencies October 3rd, 2025
    Next-generation quantum communication October 3rd, 2025
    "Nanoreactor" cage uses visible light for catalytic and ultra-selective cross-cycloadditions October 3rd, 2025
Announcements
    Rice membrane extracts lithium from brines with greater speed, less waste October 3rd, 2025
    Researchers develop molecular qubits that communicate at telecom frequencies October 3rd, 2025
    Next-generation quantum communication October 3rd, 2025
    "Nanoreactor" cage uses visible light for catalytic and ultra-selective cross-cycloadditions October 3rd, 2025
Nanobiotechnology
    New molecular technology targets tumors and simultaneously silences two ‘undruggable’ cancer genes August 8th, 2025
    New imaging approach transforms study of bacterial biofilms August 8th, 2025
    Ben-Gurion University of the Negev researchers several steps closer to harnessing patient's own T-cells to fight off cancer June 6th, 2025
    Electrifying results shed light on graphene foam as a potential material for lab grown cartilage June 6th, 2025
| 
			 | 
	||
| 
			 | 
	||
| The latest news from around the world, FREE | ||
| 
			 | 
	||
| 
			 | 
	||
| Premium Products | ||
| 
			 | 
	||
| 
			Only the news you want to read! 
			 Learn More  | 
		||
| 
			 | 
	||
| 
			Full-service, expert consulting 
			 Learn More  | 
		||
| 
			 | 
	||