Synthesis and Tracking of Fluorescent and Polymerization-Propelled Single-Molecule Nanomachines

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dc.contributor.advisorTour, James M.en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberWong, Michael S.en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberMarti, Angel A.en_US
dc.creatorGodoy Vargas, Jazminen_US
dc.date.accessioned2013-07-24T19:29:25Zen_US
dc.date.accessioned2013-07-24T19:29:39Zen_US
dc.date.available2013-07-24T19:29:25Zen_US
dc.date.available2013-07-24T19:29:39Zen_US
dc.date.created2012-12en_US
dc.date.issued2013-07-24en_US
dc.date.submittedDecember 2012en_US
dc.date.updated2013-07-24T19:29:39Zen_US
dc.description.abstractThis dissertation describes the synthesis of molecular machines designed to operate on surfaces (nanocars) or in the solution phase (nanosubmarines), and the study of their diffusion using fluorescence techniques. The design of these molecular machines is aimed to facilitate monitoring of their movement and incorporation of a source of energy for propulsion. To complement previous scanning tunneling microscopy studies of the translation of nanocars on surfaces, chapter 1 describes the synthesis of a family of fluorescently tagged nanocars. The nanocars were functionalized with a tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate (TRITC) fluorescent dye. Single-molecule fluorescence microscopy (SMFM) studies of one of these nanocars revealed that 25% of the nanocars moved on glass. The SMFM results also suggested that the dye hindered the mobility of the nanocars. Seeking to improve the mobility, chapter 2 presents the synthesis of a new set of fluorescent nanocars, featuring a 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (BODIPY) dye embedded in their axles. The mobility of these inherently fluorescent nanocars on glass was nearly double than that of their TRITC-tagged predecessors. Their diffusion was also studied on reactive-ion-etched glass, and amino-functionalized glass. The results showed that the mobility is affected by the substrate. To equip the nanocars with an energy input for propulsion, two nanocars functionalized with an olefin metathesis catalyst were synthesized, as described in chapter 3. The catalytic activity of these nanocars toward ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) in solution was similar to that of their parent catalysts. As an alternative approach to investigate if chemical propulsion through a ROMP process can be achieved at the molecular level, chapter 4 presents the synthesis of a fluorescent ROMP catalyst, termed a nanosubmarine, and the study of its diffusion using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). FCS results showed an increase of 20 ± 7% in the diffusion constant of this nanosubmarine in presence of its fuel, cis,cis-1,5-cyclooctadiene. Overall, the work accomplished in this dissertation constitutes a step forward toward development of easily tracked and highly mobile nanocars, and paves the way for the synthesis of truly nanosized chemically propelled molecular machines that operate in the solution phase.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.citationGodoy Vargas, Jazmin. "Synthesis and Tracking of Fluorescent and Polymerization-Propelled Single-Molecule Nanomachines." (2013) Diss., Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/71652">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/71652</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.slug123456789/ETD-2012-12-262en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/71652en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.en_US
dc.subjectNanomachinesen_US
dc.subjectNanocarsen_US
dc.subjectRing-opening metathesis polymerizationen_US
dc.subjectFluorescence microscopyen_US
dc.subjectFluorescence correlation spectroscopyen_US
dc.subjectOrganic synthesisen_US
dc.titleSynthesis and Tracking of Fluorescent and Polymerization-Propelled Single-Molecule Nanomachinesen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentChemistryen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineNatural Sciencesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelDoctoralen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen_US
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