Single molecules perform a variety of tasks in cells, from replicating, controlling and translating the genetic material to sensing the outside environment. These operations all require that specific actions take place. In a sense, each molecule must make tiny decisions. To make a decision, each "molecular machine" must dissipate an energy Py in the presence of thermal noise Ny. The number of b...

Like macroscopic machines, molecular-sized machines are limited by their material components, their design, and their use of power. One of these limits is the maximum number of states that a machine can choose from. The logarithm to the base 2 of the number of states is defined to be the number of bits of information that the machine could "gain" during its operation. The maximum possible infor...

Some organic molecules can be isomerized upon photoirradiation and when accompanied by a change in the visible absorption spectrum, it is called photochromism. Azobenzenes are important part of molecular machines and nanotechnology, Which are This phenomenon is called photoisomerization Azobenzene (azo) chromophores , and have been incorporated into a wide variety of materials and molecular arc...