title: Micromotors with step-motor characteristics by controlled magnetic interactions among assembled components.
abstract: In this study, we investigated the control of the rotation dynamics of an innovative type of rotary micromotors with desired performances by tuning the magnetic interactions among the assembled micro/nanoscale components. The micromotors are made of metallic nanowires as rotors, patterned magnetic nanodisks as bearings and actuated by external electric fields. The magnetic forces for anchoring the rotors on the bearings play an essential role in the rotation dynamics of the micromotors. By varying the moment, orientation, and dimension of the magnetic components, distinct rotation behaviors can be observed, including repeatable wobbling and rolling in addition to rotation. We understood the rotation behaviors by analytical modeling, designed and realized micromotors with step-motor characteristics. The outcome of this research could inspire the development of high-performance nanomachines assembled from synthetic nanoentities, relevant to nanorobotics, microfluidics, and biomedical research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, the University of Texas at Austin , Austin, Texas 78712, United States.
authors.forename: Kwanoh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jianhe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Xiaobin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Donglei Emma
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D005583:Fourier Analysis; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D060328:Magnetic Phenomena; D055616:Microtechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D053770:Nanowires; D009532:Nickel / Q000737:chemistry; D012399:Rotation
chemical_list: D006046:Gold; D009532:Nickel
keywords: assembly; electric tweezers; micromotors; nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS); nanomotors; nanorobotics; step motors