Fuel for Thought: Chemically Powered Nanomotors Out-Swim Nature’s Flagellated Bacteria

Abstract

Half a century ago, Richard Feynman envisioned tiny machines able to perform chemistry by mechanical manipulation of atoms. While this vision has not yet been realized in practice, researchers have recently discovered how to use chemistry to drive tiny engines and to operate tiny machines in the liquid phase, in much the same way Nature uses biochemistry to power a myriad of biological motors and machines. Herein, we provide a brief Perspective on the rapidly growing research activity in the emerging field of chemically powered nanomotors and nanomachines, consider some of the challenges facing its continued rapid development, and imagine a future in which these tiny motors and machines can get down to doing some serious work.