US 8,171,568 B2 · Positional diamondoid mechanosynthesis

Abstract

The invention provides methods of using positionally controlled molecular tools in an inert environment (such as ultra high vacuum) to fabricate complex atomically precise structures, including diamond, graphite, nanotubes, fullerenes, additional sets of the selfsame molecular tools, and others. Molecular tools have atomically precise tooltips which interact directly with a workpiece to add, remove, and modify specific atoms and groups of atoms, and have handles by which they can be held and positioned; tools can be recharged after use. Specific tooltips are brought into contact with and bond to specific feedstock molecules distributed on a presentation surface, and then transfer said feedstock molecules to specific atomic sites on a workpiece using mechanosynthetic chemical reactions. Specific sites on a workpiece can be made chemically reactive, facilitating the transfer of specific groups to them. Repeated applications of molecular tools at different locations on a workpiece can build a desired atomically precise structure.

Claims35

Dependent claims

A tooltip for performing a site-specific mechanosynthetic chemical reaction wherein a reactant or plurality of reactants are selected from the group consisting of the carbon group and non-metal elements, excluding the noble gases, the tooltip comprising:

a first atom or plurality of atoms arranged in an engineered atomically precise molecular structure in which either or both the bonding pattern and the electronic state of said first atom or plurality of atoms is altered during said site-specific mechanosynthetic chemical reaction;
and
a second atom or plurality of atoms affixed to said first atom or plurality of atoms, said second atom or plurality of atoms arranged in an engineered atomically precise molecular structure in which neither the bonding pattern nor the electronic state of said second atom or plurality of atoms is altered during said site-specific mechanosynthetic chemical reaction;
wherein there is a barrier to undesired reactions sufficient to achieve a desired reliability of operation at a given temperature because the application of mechanical force is required to drive a desired chemical reaction.

1 more element

a first atom or plurality of atoms arranged in an engineered atomically precise molecular structure in which either or both the bonding pattern and the electronic state of
said first atom or plurality of atoms is altered during said site-specific mechanosynthetic chemical reaction;
and
a second plurality of atoms affixed to said first atom or plurality of atoms, said second plurality of atoms arranged in an engineered atomically precise molecular structure in which neither the bonding pattern nor electronic state is altered during said site- specific mechanosynthetic chemical reaction, said engineered atomically precise molecular structure comprising
a polycyclic closed shell molecular structure composed of atoms selected from the group consisting of C (carbon), N (nitrogen), O (oxygen), H (hydrogen), F (fluorine), Si (silicon), Ge (germanium), Sn (tin), and Pb (lead), wherein at least one structural substituent atom is bonded to three other structural atoms and is terminated by either one or more nonstructural atoms, or a structural atom that is bonded to two other structural atoms and is terminated by one or more nonstructural atoms;
wherein there is a barrier to undesired reactions sufficient to achieve a desired reliability of operation at a given temperature because the application of mechanical force is required to drive a desired chemical reaction.

3 more elements

A tool for performing a site-specific mechanosynthetic chemical reaction wherein a reactant or plurality of reactants are selected from the group consisting of the carbon group and non-metal elements, excluding the noble gases, the apparatus tool comprising:

a first atom or plurality of atoms of arranged in an engineered atomically precise molecular structure in which either or both the bonding pattern and the electronic state of said first atom or plurality of atoms is altered during said site-specific mechanosynthetic chemical reaction;
and
a second plurality of atoms consisting of an engineered atomically precise molecular structure in which neither bonding pattern nor electronic state is altered during said site-specific mechanosynthetic chemical reaction, said engineered atomically precise molecular structure comprising a polycyclic closed shell molecular structure composed of atoms selected from the group consisting of C (carbon), N (nitrogen), O (oxygen), H (hydrogen), F (fluorine), Si (silicon), Ge (germanium), Sn (tin), and Pb (lead), wherein a structural substituent atom is bonded to three other structural atoms and is terminated by either one or more nonstructural atoms, or a structural atom that is bonded to two other structural atoms and is terminated by one or more nonstructural atoms;
and
a handle structure comprising a third plurality of atoms in which said handle structure is bonded to said second plurality of atoms whereby said handle structure can be manipulated by a system capable of atomically precise positional control;
wherein there is a barrier to undesired reactions sufficient to achieve a desired reliability of operation at a given temperature because the application of mechanical force is required to drive a desired chemical reaction.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Positional diamondoid mechanosynthesis

Life of this patent

Positional diamondoid mechanosynthesis

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims35