Directed motion of C60 on a graphene sheet subjected to a temperature gradient.

Nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations are used to study the motion of a C(60) molecule on a graphene sheet subjected to a temperature gradient. The C(60) molecule is actuated and moves along the system while it just randomly dances along the perpendicular direction. Increasing the temperature gradient increases the directed velocity of C(60). It is found that the free energy decreases as the C(60) molecule moves toward the cold end. The driving mechanism based on the temperature gradient suggests the construction of nanoscale graphene-based motors. ©2011 American Physical Society