News Materials Science

Atom Hauler: Molecular rig snags multi-atom loads

By Peter Weiss

- More than 2 years ago

A molecule with a knack for picking up and delivering atoms may prove a useful tool for atomic-scale construction.

MOLECULAR PACMAN. A custom-made molecule (colored tower) gobbles dotlike atoms of copper protruding from a copper surface (left to right). Gross et al./Nature Materials

Scientists in France and Germany who created and tested the molecule say that it and similar custom-made structures might aid tasks such as building molecular-scale circuitry, depositing arrays of atom clusters with special optical or magnetic properties, and cleaning up debris on nanoconstruction sites.