A pre-publication study by Megan Cowie et al. demonstrates mechanosynthesis of carbon-based 3D structures using inverted-mode scanning tunneling microscopy (IM-STM). The technique physically moves individual C2 units with the STM tip to form C-C bonds, enabling construction of polyyne structures. This represents a step toward molecular assemblers capable of building complex 3D nanostructures directly, analogous in concept to biological ribosomes but for arbitrary 3D construction.
Nguồn: https://hackaday.com/2026/07/09/mechanosynthesis-of-atomic-carbon-structures-using-inverted-mode-stm. 8sync News chỉ tóm tắt và dẫn link; bản quyền nội dung thuộc tác giả và nguồn gốc.
Physicists at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg used computer simulations to show that carbon nanotori — ring-shaped carbon nanostructures — can generate and control toroidal moments without energy loss at the nanoscale. When a constant electric field is applied, electrons form a 3D vortex, creating a toroidal dipole. This third class of electromagnetic dipole, previously difficult to replicate at the molecular level, could enable more precise control of superconductors in quantum computing systems, reducing signal noise and energy consumption by directly altering quantum mechanical phases rather than relying on hard-to-focus magnetic or electric fields.
Ben Krasnow explores atomic force microscopy (AFM) through several experiments: visualizing the probe's 9 kHz oscillation with a stroboscopic camera, imaging nattō bacteria on gelatin-coated silicon wafers, examining silver nanoprisms and track-etched membranes, and using AFM to verify electrochemical etching of laser-etched diffraction gratings. The post also references DIY AFM builds for those interested in building their own.