TY - JOUR

T1 - Carbon nanotube electron windmills: A novel design for nanomotors

AU - Bailey, S. W. D.

AU - Amanatidis, I.

AU - Lambert, Colin

PY - 2008/6/27

Y1 - 2008/6/27

N2 - We propose a new drive mechanism for carbon nanotube (CNT) motors, based upon the torque generated by a flux of electrons passing through a chiral nanotube. The structure of interest comprises a double-walled CNT formed from, for example, an achiral outer tube encompassing a chiral inner tube. Through a detailed analysis of electrons passing through such a "windmill," we find that the current, due to a potential difference applied to the outer CNT, generates sufficient torque to overcome the static and dynamic frictional forces that exist between the inner and outer walls, thereby causing the inner tube to rotate.

AB - We propose a new drive mechanism for carbon nanotube (CNT) motors, based upon the torque generated by a flux of electrons passing through a chiral nanotube. The structure of interest comprises a double-walled CNT formed from, for example, an achiral outer tube encompassing a chiral inner tube. Through a detailed analysis of electrons passing through such a "windmill," we find that the current, due to a potential difference applied to the outer CNT, generates sufficient torque to overcome the static and dynamic frictional forces that exist between the inner and outer walls, thereby causing the inner tube to rotate.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=46449122550&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.256802

DO - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.256802

M3 - Journal article

VL - 100

SP - -

JO - Physical review letters

JF - Physical review letters

SN - 0031-9007

IS - 25

M1 - 256802

ER -