Chemists change the bonds between atoms in a single molecule for the first time

Images of single molecules obtained by high-resolution atomic force microscopy. Selectively and reversibly the molecular structure in the center can be transformed to the structure on the right or on the left, by voltage pulses applied form the tip of a scanning probe microscope. Credit: Leo Gross/IBM

This is done by using a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) to break the bonds in a molecule and then to customize the molecule by creating new bonds—a chemistry first

https://phys.org/news/2022-07-chemists-bonds-atoms-molecule.amp
It seems that we are at the beginning of a new technology that allows customization of molecules.

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Northwest · M

This a great first step, a testimonial to international cooperation between private industry and public research universities across the globe, as well as opening the door to CRISPR like technologies. This will have direct industrial applications in less than 5 years in the EV space (among others).

Pfuzylogic · M

@Northwest
I found customizing molecules something that needed to be commented on. To think that they could directly apply voltage to change energy levels of the electrons and hence the valence bonds was something that caught me totally unexpected.

Northwest · M

@Pfuzylogic Yes. Applying the voltage differential, at the atomic-bond level, is beyond amazing. At some point in the future, we might be able to fix a defect *inside* a 600 ton cement block, without having to break it apart.