Thermal Vibration-Induced Rotation of Nano-Wheel: A Molecular Dynamics Study

Abstract

By bending a straight carbon nanotube and bonding both ends of the nanotube, a nanoring (or nano-wheel) is produced. The nanoring system can be driven to rotate by fixed outer nanotubes at room temperature. When placing some atoms at the edge of each outer tube (the stator here) with inwardly radial deviation (IRD), the IRD atoms will repulse the nanoring in their thermally vibration-induced collision and drive the nanoring to rotate when the repulsion due to IRD and the friction with stators induce a non-zero moment about the axis of rotational symmetry of the ring. As such, the nanoring can act as a wheel in a nanovehicle. When the repulsion is balanced with the intertubular friction, a stable rotational frequency (SRF) of the rotor is achieved. The results from the molecular dynamics simulation demonstrate that the nanowheel can work at extremely low temperature and its rotational speed can be adjusted by tuning temperature.

Precise control of CNT-DNA assembled nanomotor using oppositely charged dual nanopores

“…The IRD atoms will repel the nanotubes in their thermal vibration-induced collisions and can drive the nanotubes to rotate when the non-zero moment around the axis of rotational symmetry of the ring is induced by the repulsion due to the IRD and the friction with the stator. 22–25…”

“…The IRD atoms will repel the nanotubes in their thermal vibration-induced collisions and can drive the nanotubes to rotate when the non-zero moment around the axis of rotational symmetry of the ring is induced by the repulsion due to the IRD and the friction with the stator. [22][23][24][25] It is undeniable that the driving methods of nanomotors described above have their unique characteristics and perform well in some specific tasks. In order to accelerate the development of micro/nanomotor technology, manipulation accuracy should be the focus.…”