Controllable High-Speed Rotation of Nanowires

TL;DR

This paper introduces a versatile AC voltage method for precisely controlling high-speed nanowire rotation, enabling applications like micromotors with adjustable speed, chirality, and rotation angle.

Contribution

It presents a novel technique for controllable nanowire rotation with high speed and precision, including the ability to switch rotation on/off and control chirality and angle.

Findings

Achieved rotation speeds up to 1800 rpm.

Demonstrated control over rotation chirality and angle.

Developed a nanowire-driven micromotor.

Abstract

We report a versatile method for executing controllable high-speed rotation of nanowires by AC voltages applied to multiple electrodes. The rotation of the nanowires can be instantly switched on or off with precisely controlled rotation speed (to at least 1800 rpm), definite chirality, and total angle of rotation. We have determined the torque due to the fluidic drag force on nanowire of different lengths. We also demonstrate a micromotor using a rotating nanowires driving a dust particle into circular motion. This method has been used to rotate magnetic and nonmagnetic nanowires as well as carbon nanotubes.