'Octofoil': The Tighest And The Most Complex Molecular Knot Having Length Of Just 20nm Discovered

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There are numerous knots for numerous chores. Although, the question is Which is the tightest knot? The answer lies at molecules level. Scientists have discovered the tightest knot of just 20 nanometres long and it is made up of a braid of molecules.

How much are 20 nanometers? When converted to the meter system, 20 nanometers is about 0.00000002 meters in length. These types of knots are twisted in numerous shapes and are more analogous. It is not the first ever molecular knot discovered. New Scientist states that the first ever molecular know was discovered back in 1989 named as Trefoil knot. It is the simplest kind of knot ever discovered. It took researchers more than a century when in 2011, they learned how to coax molecules into knots.

The recently discovered knot named as Octofoil, the knot is made up of 192 atoms combined of Oxygen, Nitrogen, Hydrogen, and Carbon atoms yarn into triple braid i.e. Trefoil to create the new Octofoil knot. It is described as the most complex molecular knot and was discovered by the team of chemists at the University of Manchester.

Science News further elaborate about the new discovery stating that the new knot if knit in fabrics can give the strength of Kevlar with more flexibility and light-weight. David Leigh, the co-author of the study stated that there are more than six billion prime knots known to mathematics, however, many researchers have tried and were only able to synthesize the trefoil knot back in 1989 as taking the strands and weaving them together as shoelaces are very difficult.

David Leigh used self-assembly technique back in 2012 to create pentafoil knot made of 160 atoms. The molecular strands were crossed five times and hence the name Pentafoil. A representation of the octofoil knot shows strands of molecules crossing eight times with Chloride Ion in the center and Iron Ions in between knots. Crossing over eight times has made it extremely complex knot every synthesized.

According to David Leigh, the practical application of these types of knots can be used to make bulletproof vests and other important applications.