Nanomechanics

"By irradiating the surface through appropriate filters, the controlled mechanical  motion of the bistable [2] rotaxane molecules were harnessed to push droplets of iodomethane uphill on a substrate positioned at a 12º incline." [1]

This line comes from a 2012 Chem. Soc. Rev. article titled "High Hopes: Can Molecular Electronics Realize its Potential?" In short, the authors of the original article[2] were able to utilize light energy to push a fluid against its normal direction of flow. By changing the physical location of one molecule with respect to another in a thin film, the scientists were able to control how a liquid acted in real-time on this thin film.

If that doesn't blow your mind, think about it this way. The potential energy in light was transferred to a molecule, which was able to undergo a mechanical change. So potential energy was converted into kinetic energy. This change, affected by the movement of the molecule, then caused a change of potential energy of the liquid on its surface which was eased by converting this new energy into movement- more kinetic energy. Shine light, move liquid. 

Heck, shine light-move anything is a staggering possibility. Controlled surface wetting has implications for cool new polymer films. Maybe even one that will collect water from rain (or the atmosphere![3,4]).  The Cohen paper [4] also discusses controlled drug release but why limit it to medicine?

Almost, Morpheus. I like your imagination though.

What about creating nano-machines? 

Oh. Well thanks anyway graygoo.net

 Still, it's an interesting thought.

[1]Coskin, A., Stoddart, F. et al.; Chem. Soc. Rev., 2012, 41, 4827-4859

[2]Berna, J., Zerbetto, F. et al.; Nat. Mater., 2005, 4, 704-710
[3] MIT Review
[4] Zhai, L., Cohen, R. et al.; Nano Lett., 2006, 6, 1213-1217