Nanobots and Molecular Assembly

Scanning tunneling microscopy or STM provides the researcher with a critical tool to analyze and image conducting surfaces at the nanometer. Ångstrom level resolution in some cases can be achieved where the tunneling tip manipulates surface structures and amorphous adsorbates to the point where individual atoms can be moved and resolved. This new diamond age, where novel diamond-oid structures like fullerenes and nanotubes can be constructed through nanoprobes will usher in the next generation of materials science and additive manufacturing. Likely, STM technology will progress and become more commonplace to the point where assembly of nano-structures turns from art into industry. One idea is to create molecular machines that are capable of self-assembly, basically programmed chemical robots that can achieve replication though the collection of raw material (atoms) and the energetically favorable entropy ordering landscaping. Once a good Hamiltonian for a novel molecular machine is found, really a system of Hamiltonians, one can describe the energetics and entropy escape of these systems to create basic molecular order. Assembly or self-assembly of nanobots needs to occur through the development of controllable systems that have regulating off switches. The nanobots must be able to perform basic tasks however, in order to provide some sort of use. Cis trans benzene rings connected through a covalent bond might be one critical part of a nano-machine that could couple to other structures. By manipulating the bonds and organic rings found in nature, one might be able to control biological processes or even molecular computing. STM provides a useful tool to analyze these nano-bot parts and will likely be key to finding more robust nano-bot parts.