News Materials Science

Miniature Motor: Nanotubes central to new rotating device

By Jessica Gorman

- More than 2 years ago

Motors, pumps, and other electromechanical devices are tinier than ever–and getting even smaller. Now, for the first time, researchers have used miniature, nested cylinders, called multiwalled carbon nanotubes, to make a motor that’s only 300 nanometers long.

ROTATIONAL MOTION. In this simulation, a rotor (yellow) turns around a carbon nanotube shaft (black). Zettl Research Group, UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab

A variety of molecular-scale motors and other actuators are under development around the world, but many rely on biological parts, such as enzymes (SN: 11/9/02, p.