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

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.