This info might to be useful to the folks at Nanorex in their continuing design of NanoEngineer-1 especially in regards to simulation.
Much of the development to be done in nanotech is not just dependent on bright new designs or structural discoveries. There is also the advance of empirical information. Accurate measurement of molecular and atomic behavior will improve the ability of our models and designers to produce effective devices.
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Once regions of chemical reactions can be constrained to few molecule through-put the dimensions of freedom which introduce error into most self-assembly systems will fall to manageable levels. By properly tailoring region size, substrate and feed stock molecules intentional assembly will manifest due to energy minimizing probabilism.
The attached article is a step in that direction.
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Chris Phoenix does a wonderful job of pointing out the facts of life in nanoscale manufacturing and contrary to some commonly held beliefs those facts aren't all bad.
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This is a good move towards forcing self-assembly down controlled pathways. I've seen several articles which highlight chemical reactions and molecular behavior in nanotube environments but this piece of work converges with some other ideas on constraining reactions.
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