A.M. Fennimore, T.D. Yuzvinsky, Wei-Qiang Han, M.S. Fuhrer, J. Cumings and A. Zettl, Rotational actuators based on carbon nanotubes. Nature 424, 408-410 (2003)

Description:

Researchers at UC Berkeley have developed rotational bearings based upon multiwall carbon nanotubes. By attaching a gold plate (with dimensions of order 100nm) to the outer shell of a suspended multiwall carbon nanotube (like nested carbon cylinders), they are able to electrostatically rotate the outer shell relative to the inner core. These bearings are very robust; Devices have been oscillated thousands of times with no indication of wear. The work was done in situ in an SEM.  Above is a series of scanning electron microscope pictures of the spinning rotor of the nanomotor. The entire electric motor is about 500 nanometers across, 300 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair.  These nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) are the next step in miniaturization that may find their way into commercial aspects in the future. 
 

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