Miniature Motor: Nanotubes central to new rotating device

Motors, pumps, and other electromechanical devices are tinier than ever–and getting even smaller. Now, for the first time, researchers have used miniature, nested cylinders, called multiwalled carbon nanotubes, to make a motor that’s only 300 nanometers long.

ROTATIONAL MOTION. In this simulation, a rotor (yellow) turns around a carbon nanotube shaft (black).