Molecular Machinery: Synthesis of a “Nanodragster”.

The synthesis and imaging by scanning tunneling microscopy of a mixed wheeled nanovehicle composed of a p-carborane small-wheeled short front axle and a C60large-wheeled long rear axle that has been termed a nanodragster due to the structural relation to a dragster are reported. This nanodragster is expected to exhibit motion at a lower temperature than pure C60-wheeled nanocars and should allow the investigation of the role played by p-carborane wheels in directional motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]