The design and synthesis of molecular machines, and notably chemically fuelled motors, has evolved considerably in recent years ^[1–4]. One fundamental challenge is now to assemble these discrete units into higher-order architectures capable of performing collective work, as exemplified in biology by ATP synthase. Our small team is currently developing elementary machine units—switches and motors—with the aim of integrating them into complex assemblies and devices with applications in endergonic synthesis ^[5], artificial muscles, and smart materials, where nanoscale mechanical motion translates into programmable material behaviour.

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[2] Stefan Borsley, Elisabeth Kreidt, David A. Leigh, Benjamin M. W. Roberts, Nature, 2022, 604, 80–85.
[3] Jordan Berreur, Olivia F. B. Watts, Theo H. N. Bulless, Nicholas T. O'Donoghue, Marc Del Olmo, Ashley J. Winter, Jonathan Clayden, Beatrice S. L. Collins, Nature, 2025, 644, 96–101.
[4] Peng-Lai Wang, Enzo Olivieri, Stefan Borsley, George F. S. Whitehead, Avantika Hasija, David A. Leigh, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2025, 147, 10690–10697.
[5] Enzo Olivieri, James M. Gallagher, Alexander Betts, Toufic W. Mrad, David A. Leigh, Nat. Synth., 2024, 3, 707–714.