We propose a Brownian ratchet for the unidirectional transport of stimuli-responsive molecules confined in a series of asymmetric geometries. It relies on repetitive cycles of aggregation and dispersion, which cause significant changes in molecular distribution within the confining geometry and enable the Brownian motion of the molecules to be ratcheted in a specific direction. To demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed Brownian ratchet, we conducted Brownian dynamics simulations where stimuli-responsive molecules were repeatedly aggregated and dispersed in a series of truncated conical tubes by altering intermolecular interactions. These simulations demonstrated the unidirectional transport of the molecules, indicating the efficacy of the proposed Brownian ratchet. Furthermore, we found that it becomes more effective with higher concentrations of molecules. This study suggests that, through the deliberate control of molecular assembly and disassembly by stimuli-responsive intermolecular interactions, it is possible to achieve directional and controlled molecular transport in various nanoscale applications.
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14 February 2024
Research Article|
February 13 2024
Design of a Brownian ratchet based on repetitive aggregation and dispersion of stimuli-responsive molecules
Gayoung Kim
;
Gayoung Kim
(Investigation, Methodology)
Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University
, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
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Jun Soo Kim
Jun Soo Kim
a)
(Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Supervision, Writing – original draft)
Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University
, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: [email protected]
Search for other works by this author on:
a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: [email protected]
J. Chem. Phys. 160, 064908 (2024)
Article history
Received:
December 07 2023
Accepted:
January 21 2024
Citation
Gayoung Kim, Jun Soo Kim; Design of a Brownian ratchet based on repetitive aggregation and dispersion of stimuli-responsive molecules. J. Chem. Phys. 14 February 2024; 160 (6): 064908. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0190589
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