An international research team has built an electric molecular motor inspired by the ancient Archimedes screw.
The breakthrough electro-mechanical device utilizes a microscopic spiral molecule suspended between two custom gold electrodes.
The researchers Anil Kumar Singh, Léon Martin, Matea Sršen, and their colleagues published their prominent scientific findings in the prestigious journal Nature. Passing a controlled electrical current through the helical structure forces the isolated molecule to rotate rapidly.
Furthermore, engineers can reverse the direction of the rotation by systematically altering the applied voltage. This molecular architecture opens new pathways for developing next-generation electronic components at the single-molecule scale.
Boosting electrical conductivity through mechanical rotation
The dynamic coupling of mechanical motion and electrical conductivity represents the most significant finding of the study.
The spinning motion of the spiral component increases the overall electrical conductivity up to 100 times. This dramatic change connects physical movement at the molecular level with a measurable electronic signal.
The University of Copenhagen team initially synthesized the specialized spiral molecule for this experiment. Subsequently, physicists at the Weizmann Institute of Science anchored individual molecules between two atomic-sized gold tips.
The handlers utilize sulfur atoms to attach the microscopic component firmly to the gold surfaces. By adjusting the distance between the two electrodes, researchers can stretch or compress the device.
Operating within an active electrical circuit
This advanced design differs fundamentally from older experimental molecular motors developed by previous researchers.
Earlier molecular models operated on flat surfaces and required external scanning tunneling microscope tips to induce movement.
This new device functions as an active, self-contained component directly inside an integrated electrical circuit.
The passing electrons simultaneously drive the rotary motion and allow scientists to analyze the system.
The delicate process requires highly specialized configurations and perfect cleanroom conditions to prevent environmental interference.
Nevertheless, the study successfully proves a controllable mechanism where electrical inputs dictate precise molecular rotation.
Scientists have shrunk Archimedes’ screw to the molecular scale! This electrically powered molecular motor can rotate in either direction and boost electrical conductivity by up to 100 times. A remarkable step toward molecular electronics!https://t.co/Z7Cf7jrA6M pic.twitter.com/o7AdurCrRu
— FindLight (@FindLightInc) November 2, 2026
Advancing towards functional microscopic machinery
The successful project marks a major step forward in the long-term development of artificial molecular machines. For decades, biologists and chemists have tried to replicate the motion-producing functions found inside living cells. Biological motors routinely convert chemical energy into physical movement to power microscopic cellular tasks.
The classic Archimedes screw offers an accessible macroscopic analogy for this synthetic engineering equivalent. In a large scale, a rotating wooden screw physically lifts and transports heavy volumes of water. At the single-molecule scale, the helix serves as a conductive track for moving subatomic electrons.
This reversible, dual-state functionality could prove essential for engineering molecular switches and ultra-compact quantum sensors.
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