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Materials science

Nanoscale locomotion without fuel

Nature volume 519, pages 37–38 (2015)Cite this article

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Computer simulations have revealed a mechanism by which nanostructures of the material graphene can be driven in one direction by controlling the stiffness of the underlying substrate.

The ability to move when and where we want is fundamental to our way of life, and our capacity for directing the natural motion of other objects and materials is essential for a range of technologies, from medicine to power generation. Although the same principles apply at the nanometre scale, miniature machines based on conventional macro-scale mechanisms have suffered from various problems, including lack of directional control, crippling frictional forces and permanent adhesion to adjacent components through strong chemical bonding. Writing in Physical Review Letters, Chang et al.1 introduce a new way of moving nanoscale materials that overcomes some of these challenges, and that does not need an external power source to drive it.

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Figure 1: Stiffness-guided motion.

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  1. Amanda S. Barnard is in the Virtual Nanoscience Laboratory, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.,

    Amanda S. Barnard

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  1. Amanda S. Barnard
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Correspondence to Amanda S. Barnard.

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Barnard, A. Nanoscale locomotion without fuel. Nature 519, 37–38 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/519037a

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