The CNT@BNNT Nano-oscillator Remotely Driven by an Electric Field

The double- or multiwalled nanotubes with intershell superlubricity show the potential of a new generation of nano-oscillators. When they are encapsulated into devices, however, the contact mechanical initialization of nano-oscillators is less controllable for lack of precision, and the challenge is how to excite the oscillator remotely by external fields, such as electric or magnetic fields. This requires that the inner and outer tubes respond differently to external fields while maintaining the intershell superlubricity. Therefore, we consider that the heteronanotubes of carbon and boron nitride (CNT@BNNT) serve as an ideal candidate. We propose a conceptual design─the single electron transistor (SET) and CNT@BNNT oscillator─to realize remote excitation. With the help of SET, the CNT gets charged and then is driven by the electric field, while the insulating BNNT shows no response. The conceptual design is further validated by molecular dynamics simulations. Our results reveal the superior sustainability of CNT@BNNT oscillators, excelling over the homogeneous CNT@CNT counterpart. Apart from remote excitation, the sustainability of oscillators should also be considered when designing, and thus we elaborate on various effects on sustainability, such as temperature, commensurability, spacing, tube end, etc. Our design is expected to provide a remedy for the practical application of CNT-based oscillators.