University of Groningen professor Ben Feringa, the organic chemist who made the world’s first light driven molecular motor and a four wheel drive molecular car, is featured in an article on molecular machines published by Nature.
But even so, Feringa says that at this moment, there is little practical application for the technology. Credit: Courtesy of Ben Feringa A new electric car is driving off the lot. The nano car consists of just a single molecule and travels on four electrically-driven wheels in an almost straight line over a copper surface. In 1999 Ben Feringa presented the first molecular motor, consisting of a molecule, part of which performed a full rotation under the influence of light and heat. One possible application is to use these as vehicles for the targeted delivery of medicines. Ben Feringa is a Dutch chemist who won the Nobel Prize when he invented a molecular motor and 'nanocar'. In his Nobel Lecture, B. L. Feringa describes the evolution of the field of molecular motors and explains how to program and control molecules by incorporating responsive and adaptive properties. Bernard Lucas "Ben" Feringa (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈbɛrnɑrt ˈlykɑs ˈbɛn ˈfeːrɪŋɣaː], born 18 May 1951) is a Dutch synthetic organic chemist, specializing in molecular nanotechnology and homogenous catalysis.He is the Jacobus van 't Hoff Distinguished Professor of Molecular Sciences, at the Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of … Under his guidance the Feringa group has developed extensive expertise in the fields of organic chemistry, nanotechnology, asymmetric catalysis.
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The article describes how the field of ‘the tiniest Lego’ has matured over the last two decades. at the University of Groningen, where he was appointed full professor in 1988, after working as research scientist for Shell. While the car image is simply aesthetic, it does highlight a level of sophistication. Nano car University of Groningen professor Ben Feringa, the organic chemist who made the world’s first light driven molecular motor and a four wheel drive molecular car, is featured in an article on molecular machines published by Nature . Interview with the 2016 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry Bernard L. Feringa on 6 December 2016, during the Nobel Week in Stockholm, Sweden. University of Groningen scientists led by Professor of Organic Chemistry Ben Feringa have designed a new type of molecular motor. About five hours later, the hovercraft-like Swiss Nano Dragster became the only car to complete the race on a gold track. Over the years a unique expertise in stereochemistry has been acquired.
The research program of the Feringa group is focussed on synthetic organic chemistry.
Feringa and his team had put these motors into a range of nano devices, laying the foundations for materials that can change in response to an input of energy.