Carbon-nanotube nanomotor driven by graphene origami

Experiments have shown that graphene origami (GORI) can be formed by compressing a folio graphene ribbon. In this study, the GORI is introduced to a rotary nanomotor built from a double-walled carbon nanotube. By placing several cantilevered GORI around the long inner tube (rotor) of the nanomotor with their tips toward the rotor, the nonbonding interaction between the tips and the rotor becomes strong when their distance is less than 1 nm. Rotationally symmetrical layout of the GORI tends to induce nonzero unidirectional torque on the rotor. Thereout, the rotor is accelerated to rotate until a stable rotational frequency (SRF) is reached on the condition that the stators (short outer tubes) applying equal but opposite torque on the rotor. The molecular-dynamics simulation approach is adopted to verify the procedure of the proposed rotary nanomotor. Conclusions are drawn for fabrication of the present rotary nanomotor.