Scientists have created one of the most unique scientific breakthroughs when it comes to nanomachines. Researchers created a microscopic submersible vehicle complete with a tiny propeller that can spin at 1 million rpm, all made from one molecule.

Researchers from Rice University created this "nanosubmarine" led by chemist James Tour by just using 244 atoms.

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The engine works similarly to a bacterium's flagellum that rotates in a circle when ultraviolet light triggers its energy state to become excited. There are also two large pontoons, located at the front where these help the nanocraft to exert force through the molecules where they also emit a red light fluorescence for researchers to monitor the nanosubmarine.

Even if this molecular vehicle is miniscule in size, the spin of its propeller moves the nanosub to 18 nanometers which is equal to one billionth of a meter however, this can spin at incredibly fast rates. Tour explains this molecular mechanism as the fastest ever moving molecules observed in a solution.

It might be hard to imagine how microscopic molecules can travel at that rate when it is essentially forcing its way through a massive amount of same sized molecules. Tour describes this as comparable to someone who is walking across a basketball court while 1,000 people are continuously throwing basketballs at him.

The purpose of these nanosubmarines will lie in sending much needed medicine up a patient's bloodstream for precise delivery or even to drive out toxic chemicals from water filter systems. According to lead author of the study, Victor García-López, this is only just the first step where the concept is now proven. Further research will be needed to explore potential applications for the molecular machine.

This new study is published in the journal Nano Letters.

Tagsnanosubmarine, nanosubmarine single molecule, molecular vehicle, rice university, tiny vehicle made from molecules atoms, microscopic submarines, one molecule craft, nanomachines