Unidirectional motion of C₆₀-based nanovehicles using hybrid substrates with temperature gradient

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Surface Science

Background:

• Nanocar structures offer potential for surface-based energy and payload transport.
• Controlling the diffusive motion of nanocars on surfaces is a key challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the motion of C60 and C60-based nanovehicles on graphene and hexagonal boron-nitride (BN) surfaces.
• To investigate methods for confining and directing nanocar motion for controlled transport applications.

Main Methods:

• Molecular dynamics simulations were employed to analyze nanocar behavior.
• Potential energy analysis was used to understand surface interactions and energy barriers.
• Graphene-hBN hybrid substrates and specifically designed nanoroads were utilized.

Main Results:

• C60 exhibited greater stability on boron-nitride impurity regions of hybrid substrates, with energy barriers restricting movement.
• A nanoroad structure confined C60 and nanovehicle motion to the boron-nitride path at 300 K, though some lateral diffusion persisted.
• Applying a temperature gradient induced unidirectional transport of C60 and nanocars towards colder regions of the nanoroad.

Conclusions:

• Engineered nanoroads on hybrid substrates can effectively confine nanocar motion.
• Temperature gradients are a viable strategy for achieving directed, unidirectional transport of nanocar structures on surfaces.