| Yasuhiro Shirai1, Yuming Zhao1, Andrew J. Osgood2, Chiu Yu-Hung1, Yuxing Yao1, Hanbiao Yang1, Lionel Saudan1, Kevin F. Kelly2, and James M. Tour1. (1) Departments of Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, and Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Rice University, MS-222, 6100 Main St., Houston, TX 77005, (2) Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, MS 366, 6100 Main St., Houston, TX 77005 |
| The current trend in the physical and biological sciences is the continued miniaturization of machinery from the macroscopic to the microscopic world. The ultimate goal is to build machines at the nanoscopic level from individual molecules. However, this bottom-up approach presents a critical question of how to control the molecular-sized machines. We have synthesized the molecular nanoscale vehicle NanoTruck (1), and seek to control the NanoTruck using a STM. The NanoTruck is similar to a macroscopic truck by integrating three essential components, a planar "chassis," four rotating "axles," and four round "wheels." Synthesis of several prototype NanoTrucks and results from the maneuvering experiments using STM will be presented. 
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