Design and characterization of carbon nanotube based ultra high speed nanomotor in water

Abstract

This thesis proposes a carbon nanotube based novel nanomotor structure that is capable of rotating at an ultrahigh speed. Using molecular dynamics simulations, it is shown that a carbon nanotube (CNT) suspended in water and subjected to a rotating electric field of proper magnitude and angular speed, can be rotated with the aid of water dipole orientations. Based on this principle, we design a rotational nanomotor structure and simulate the system in water. We make use of the fast responsiveness of electric field induced CNT orientation in water and show its operation at ultrahigh-speed (over 1011 r.p.m.). To explain the basic mechanism, we also analyze the behavior of the rotational actuation originated from the water dipole orientation. The proposed nanomotor is capable of rotating an attached load (such as CNT) at a precise angle as well as nano-gear based complex structures. The findings suggest potential way of using the electric field induced CNT rotation in polarizable fluids as a novel tool to operate nano-devices and systems.