Scientists at the University of Bath, along with an international team, have made an advance in controlling atoms with nanotechnology. This could change how we do science and make new drugs.

In labs, controlling atoms is common. For example, IBM made a tiny movie by moving single atoms. But controlling chemical reactions with many possible outcomes has been hard. This is important because in chemistry, like making drugs, you want one outcome, not others.

The scientists have described the methods and results of their study in a paper published in Nature Communications.

The scientists used a scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) to control the behavior of atoms in chemical reactions. An STM is like a record player, but instead of a needle, it has a tiny tip that hovers above the atoms. It measures electric current to make images of atoms.

“Our latest research demonstrates that STM can control the probability of reaction outcomes by selectively manipulating charge states and specific resonances through targeted energy injection,” says research leader Kristina Rusimova in a press release issued by the University of Bath.

With this tool, researchers can not only see atoms but also move them and control what happens in reactions. This study shows that it is now possible to control which chemical reaction happens by changing the energy they put into the molecule. This is like rolling dice, but they can make certain results more likely.

Fully programmable molecular systems

By adjusting energy, the researchers have been able to control reactions better. They keep conditions the same except for energy, which lets them control reaction chances.

This control over reactions could lead to better drug-making, cleaner energy, and other new technologies.

 “With applications in both basic and applied science, this advancement represents a major step toward fully programmable molecular systems,” concludes Rusimova. “We expect techniques such as this to unlock new frontiers in molecular manufacturing, opening doors to innovations in medicine, clean energy, and beyond,” she adds.

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