Question

how molecular machines convert chemical energy to mechanical energy

Answer 1

Molecular motors, also called molecular machines, are either natural or synthetic molecules that convert chemical energy into mechanical forces and motion. An example of a biological motor is the protein kinesin, which uses the hydrolysis of adenosine triphosphate to move along microtubule filaments.

Though dynamics of molecules are generally restricted by intermolecular contacts, C fullerene is able to rotate freely despite being tightly bound inside a molecular host. Here, the authors study the solid-state dynamics of this host-guest system to understand the anomalous relationship between tight association and low friction.