A large fraction of our activities deal with bottom-up approaches to nanotechnology. We develop and synthesize molecules as nano-scale functional units and investigate subsequently (often in a collaborative approach) whether or not they accomplish the intended functionality. The expertise is thus rather on the molecule’s design, synthesis, and analysis than on the development of novel synthetic methods.

As an example, the concept and the assembly strategy for a molecular rod comprising a central “turnstile” subunit is displayed. The stacking position of the central push-pull lever depends on the direction of the applied E-field geared towards controlled single molecule motion.[169]