Nanocrystal Powered Nanomotor

ORAL

Abstract

We have constructed and operated a nanoscale linear motor, powered by a single metal nanocrystal ram sandwiched between mechanical lever arms. Low-level electrical voltages applied to the carbon nanotube lever arms grow or shrink the nanocrystal, virtually atom-by-atom, in a controlled manner. The thermodynamic principles governing the motor operation resemble those driving frost heave, a natural solid-state linear motor.

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Authors

  • B.C. Regan

  • S. Aloni

  • K. Jensen

  • R.O. Ritchie

  • Alex Zettl

    • University of California, Berkeley
    • Department of Physics, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, UC Berkeley; Materials Sciences Division, LBNL; Berkeley, CA 94720
    • Physics department, University of California at Berkeley
    • Department of Physics, UC Berkeley, and Materials Sciences Division, LBNL, Berkeley, California 94720
    • Physics Department, University of California at Berkeley, and Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley CA 94720
    • University of California-Berkeley
    • MSD, LBNL, Berkeley, Caifornia 94720 and Dept. of Physics, UC Berkeley, California, 94720
    • MSD,LBNL, Berkeley, Caifornia 94720 and Dept. of Physics, UC Berkeley, California, 94720