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Smallest Archimedean Screw: Facet Dynamics and Friction in Multiwalled Nanotubes

Roberto Guerra, Itai Leven, Andrea Vanossi, Oded Hod, Erio Tosatti

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We identify a new material phenomenon, where minute mechanical manipulations induce pronounced global structural reconfigurations in faceted multiwalled nanotubes. This behavior has strong implications on the tribological properties of these systems and may be the key to understand the enhanced interwall friction recently measured for boron-nitride nanotubes with respect to their carbon counterparts. Notably, the fast rotation of helical facets in these systems upon coaxial sliding may serve as a nanoscale Archimedean screw for directional transport of physisorbed molecules.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5321-5328
Number of pages8
JournalNano Letters
Volume17
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - 13 Sep 2017

Keywords

  • Nanotube
  • faceting
  • friction

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Chemistry
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Bioengineering
  • General Materials Science

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