Nanomechanics

Nanoscale mechanics resides at the confluence of the smallest of man-made structures and those of natural molecular level systems making it an ideal area that will bring many diverse areas into a single focus, bridging the gap between many traditionally different expertise and research areas. Our research goal is to unify these diverse research communities so as to investigate the intricate relationship between nanoscale structure, mechanics, and function. One of the grand challenges facing nanoscale science community is gaining the fundamental understanding of mechanical processes at the molecular level and exploiting the principles in order to design and develop nanoscale sensors, devices, machines and transducers with an efficiency that surpasses what has been achieved to-date.

There are many formidable challenges to overcome before we can realize the full potential that nanoscale mechanics play a pivotal role in tomorrow's science and technology. A list of identified important challenges are:

• Correlate mechanical and non-mechanical properties of matter in complex nanoscale systems.
• Identify and measure mechanical manifestations of energy transfer in nanosystems.
• Elucidate the relationship of functional properties and structure of molecular machines with mechanical manifestations, manipulations, and fabrication or synthesis.
• Replicate natural fundamental phenomena in design of functional nanomechanical systems.
• Measure, model and control motion, friction, and viscous forces at the nanoscale
• Determination of individual bonds and dispersion forces in biomolecular systems
• Characterization and response of nanobiosystems to external stimuli
• Utilization of tunable nanoparticle as local probes
• Characterization of biomolecular motors