A high-frequency nanoscale positioner driven by an external electric field: a molecular dynamics study

Abstract

The precise localization at the nanoscale plays a crucial role in mass transfer, nanostructure reconstructions, and nanofabrication processes. This study presents a model for a nano-positioner via strain engineering that can be precisely controlled by an external electric field (EF). The model consists of three major components: a graphene kirigami (GK) nanospring for achieving large elastic deformation, a charged carbon nanotube (CNT) connecting the GK, and a graphene substrate for controlling the movement path of the CNT. Upon activation of the EF, the charged CNT moves along the substrate, stretches the GK, and eventually settles at a desired position after undergoing damped oscillations. When turning off the EF, the CNT returns to its initial position. Molecular dynamics simulations are employed to evaluate the safety, stability, precision, and response speed of this system in a pulsed EFs while taking account of GK geometry and EF mode effects. Within a certain range of EF intensity, this nano-positioner operates safely with tunable positioning capability while maintaining high precision and response speed. Furthermore, this nanosystem can work smoothly at gigahertz in a pulsed EF.