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Updated: Jan 27, 2026

Reconstituting and Characterizing Actin-Microtubule Composites with Tunable Motor-Driven Dynamics and Mechanics
Published on: August 25, 2022
Nanoscale Lamb wave-driven motors in nonliquid environments
Jinsheng Lu1, Qiang Li1, Cheng-Wei Qiu2
1State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
Abstract:
Achieving light-driven motions in nonliquid environments presents formidable challenges, because microsized objects experience strong dry adhesion and intend to be stuck to contact surfaces with great tenacity. Here, in air and vacuum, we show rotary locomotion of a micrometer-sized metal plate with ~30 nm thickness, revolving around a microfiber. This motor is powered by pulsed light guided into the fiber as a coordinated consequence of an optically excited Lamb wave on the plate and favorable configuration of plate-fiber geometry. The motor, actuated by designed light pulses, crawls stepwise with subnanometer locomotion resolution. Furthermore, we can control the rotation velocity and step resolution by varying the repetition rate and pulse power, respectively. A light-actuated micromirror scanning with 0.001° resolution is then demonstrated on the basis of this motor. It offers unprecedented application potential for integrated micro-opto-electromechanical systems, outer-space all-optical precision mechanics and controls, and laser scanning for miniature lidar systems.
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