Molecular propellers and tunneling-driven motors

We design molecular propellers with carbon nanotube rotors and aromatic blades that allow selective pumping of hydrophobic and hydrophilic liquids [1]. Our molecular dynamics studies show that the pumping efficiency strongly depends on the chemistry of the liquid-blade interface. We also discuss several prototypes of highly efficient molecular motors driven by electron tunneling that could drive such rotary molecular machines [2]. These systems might pump liquids and provide motility at the nanoscale. [1] B. Wang and P. Kr\'al, Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 266102 (2007). [2] L. Vukovic, B. Wang and P. Kr\'al, submitted.