A supercharged molecular motor operating by constitutional alteration and proton transfer

Biswas P, Özçelik A, Hartinger M, Groß N, Hampel F, Müller C, Dube H (2026)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

Nature Chemistry Nature Publishing Group

DOI: 10.1038/s41557-026-02141-6

Abstract

Light-driven molecular motors undergo directional motions upon the input of external energy and represent archetypical molecular machines. So far, such motors have functioned via light-induced bond rotations, where directionality is dictated by a fixed source of asymmetry. During the operation cycle, no further structural changes occur, other than the rotation itself. Here we disclose a highly effective mechanism for light-driven motor rotation involving constitutional alteration and reversible proton transfer. Associated with this unusual mechanism is a particularly high energy content from the incident light that the motor retains. This feature is further exploited in a low-temperature molecular solar thermal energy storage application, where solar energy can be stored and released in a controlled fashion and tracked step by step with the naked eye. With these findings, unique possibilities emerge for the design and use of molecular motors with hitherto unknown modes of action and power. (Figure presented.)

Authors with CRIS profile

Pronay Biswas Lehrstuhl für Organische Chemie I Ani Özçelik Lehrstuhl für Organische Chemie I Martina Hartinger Juniorprofessur für die Theorie elektronisch angeregter Zustände Nico Groß Lehrstuhl für Organische Chemie I Frank Hampel Lehrstuhl für Organische Chemie I Carolin Müller Juniorprofessur für die Theorie elektronisch angeregter Zustände Henry Dube Lehrstuhl für Organische Chemie I

How to cite

APA:

Biswas, P., Özçelik, A., Hartinger, M., Groß, N., Hampel, F., Müller, C., & Dube, H. (2026). A supercharged molecular motor operating by constitutional alteration and proton transfer. Nature Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-026-02141-6

MLA:

Biswas, Pronay, et al. "A supercharged molecular motor operating by constitutional alteration and proton transfer." Nature Chemistry (2026).

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