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Ben Feringa

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Bernard Lucas "Ben" Feringa is a Dutch organic chemist who shared the 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on the design and synthesis of molecular machines. Working at the University of Groningen, he achieved the first synthesis of a light-driven unidirectional molecular rotor in 1999. These molecular motors form the basis for advanced research in dynamic molecular systems, targeted drug delivery, and smart materials.

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What specific molecular machine did Ben Feringa create?

Ben Feringa is credited with achieving the first synthesis of a light-driven, unidirectional molecular rotor. This tiny spinning molecule acts as a motor powered entirely by light.

Why did Ben Feringa win the Nobel Prize?

He shared the 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his foundational work on the design and synthesis of molecular machines. His light-driven motor proved that scientists could control movement at the molecular level.

What university is Ben Feringa affiliated with?

Ben Feringa conducts his research in organic chemistry at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. He has been a professor there during the period he developed his award-winning molecular machines.

How does a light-driven molecular motor work?

In Feringa's molecular motors, specific chemical bonds undergo structural changes when exposed to light. This causes one part of the molecule to physically rotate around another in a single, continuous direction.

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