Nanomachines based on carbon nanotubes

The possibility for double-wall carbon nanotube to operate as the bolt and nut pair is studied. The barriers for relative motions of walls along the helical "thread" line and for jumps on neighbor helical lines are calculated as functions of wall, lengths for the set of double-wall carbon nanotabes. The dynamics of relative motion of carbon nanotube walls along the helical line under the action of external forces is considered. Perforated nanodrill variable nanoresistor and other nanotube based mechanical nanodevices: using these motion are proposed. Possible operation modes of proposed nanodevices are discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.