The finding was published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology on Monday.

　　In the research, scientist successfully made a single molecule accept an electrical charge and rotate as fast as 120 revolutions per second.

　　"This is the first time that electrically-driven molecular motors have been demonstrated, despite a few theoretical proposals," said Charles H. Sykes, professor of chemistry at Tufts who led the team.

　　The single molecule electric motor could lead to new types of electrical circuitry, giving hope for scientists to apply it in medicine and engineering, he said.

　　"The next thing to do is to couple it to other molecules, lining them up next to one another so they're like miniature cog-wheels, and then watch the rotation propagation down the chain," said Sykes.