Solid state molybdenum carbide nanomotors driven via high temperature carbon-decomposition catalytic reactions

The motion of solid state nanomotors, i.e., molybdenum carbide nanoparticles, which were driven via carbon-decomposition catalytic reactions at ∼2900 K, was directly observed by in situ transmission electron microscopy. The nanomotors exhibited unidirectional linear motions inside the hollow space of multiwall carbon nanotubes, reciprocating motions around the nanotube endcaps, and rotational motions in the hollow spaces of carbon nanocapsules. The inner atomic wall-layers of carbon nanotubes and nanocapsules were consumed during the nanomotor motions.