Assessment of fullerene derivatives as rolling journals in a finite carbon nanotube bearing.

Conformance assessment of rolling journals in a molecular bearing has been carried out with a combination of fullerenes and finite single-wall carbon nanotube molecules through quantitative analysis of the binding affinities. Endohedral fullerenes were applicable to three-body molecular bearings with slightly weaker binding affinities. Exohedral shaft moieties on C60 journals affected the binding affinities to reduce the binding constants to a considerable extent, and oval-spherical C70 journals were superior in tolerating bulky shaft attachments.