Physics Commons^™

Casimir Chemistry, D. P. Sheehan

Physics and Biophysics: Faculty Scholarship

It is shown that, at the nanoscale, the Casimir effect can be used to mechanically tune critical aspects of chemical reaction e.g., energies, equilibrium constants, activation energies, transition states, reaction rates by varying the spacing and composition of reaction vessel boundaries. This suggests new modalities for catalysts, nanoscale chemical manufacturing, chemical-mechanical engines, and biochemical processes in organisms.