Wednesday, 7th September 2005 (4532 views)

Scientists at Edinburgh University have worked out a way of using light to stimulate man-made molecules, which in turn makes them propel droplets of liquid over gold surfaces.

This breakthrough is significant as it could lead to the development of artificial muscles whereby tiny molecular movements could carry out physical tasks, reports Innovations Report.

The scientific team have managed to manipulate the Brownian motion, which dictates that molecule movements are random, so that molecules do not move entirely randomly.

David Leigh, a member of the research team said: "Although man's understanding of how to build and control molecular machines is still at an early stage, nanoscale science and engineering could have a life-enhancing impact on human society comparable in extent to that of electricity, the steam engine, the transistor and the Internet."

When an ultra-violet light is shone on them, engineered molecules covering a gold surface can change the surface tension of a water droplet and move it a small distance.

Gold is often used in scientific experiments because it is resistance to surface oxidation, an important characteristic which many other metals lack.

 

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