The Smallest Archimedean Screw: Facet Dynamics and Friction in Multi-Walled Nanotubes

TL;DR

This paper uncovers how tiny mechanical changes can cause large structural shifts in multi-walled nanotubes, affecting their friction and enabling potential nanoscale transport mechanisms.

Contribution

It reveals a new phenomenon where facet dynamics influence tribological properties and introduces the concept of a nanoscale Archimedean screw in nanotubes.

Findings

Minute manipulations induce structural reconfigurations.

Enhanced inter-wall friction in boron-nitride nanotubes.

Facets act as nanoscale screws for molecule transport.

Abstract

We identify a new material phenomenon, where minute mechanical manipulations induce pronounced global structural reconfigurations in faceted multi-walled nanotubes. This behavior has strong implications on the tribological properties of these systems and may be the key to understand the enhanced inter-wall 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.