Editing Molecular engineering (section)

==History==

Molecular engineering was first mentioned in the research literature in 1956 by [[Arthur R. von Hippel]], who defined it as "… a new mode of thinking about engineering problems.  Instead of taking prefabricated materials and trying to devise engineering applications consistent with their macroscopic properties, one builds materials from their atoms and molecules for the purpose at hand."<ref>{{Cite journal|last=von Hippel|first=Arthur R|date=1956|title=Molecular Engineering|jstor=1750067|journal=Science|volume=123|issue=3191|pages=315–317|doi=10.1126/science.123.3191.315|pmid=17774519|bibcode=1956Sci...123..315V}}</ref> This concept was echoed in [[Richard Feynman|Richard Feynman's]] seminal 1959 lecture ''[[There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom]]'', which is widely regarded as giving birth to some of the fundamental ideas of the field of [[nanotechnology]]. In spite of the early introduction of these concepts, it was not until the mid-1980s with the publication of ''[[Engines of Creation|Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology]]'' by [[K. Eric Drexler|Drexler]] that the modern concepts of nano and molecular-scale science began to grow in the public consciousness.

The discovery of electrically conductive properties in [[polyacetylene]] by [[Alan J. Heeger]] in 1977<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Chiang|first=C. K.|date=1977-01-01|title=Electrical Conductivity in Doped Polyacetylene|journal=Physical Review Letters|volume=39|issue=17|pages=1098–1101|doi=10.1103/PhysRevLett.39.1098|bibcode=1977PhRvL..39.1098C}}</ref> effectively opened the field of [[organic electronics]], which has proved foundational for many molecular engineering efforts. Design and optimization of these materials has led to a number of innovations including [[OLED|organic light-emitting diodes]] and [[Organic solar cell|flexible solar cells]].