Grooving the carbon nanotube oscillators

Using microcanonical molecular dynamics, we investigate effects of single defects on the performance of a nanoscale oscillator composed of coaxial double-walled carbon nanotubes. It is found that at low temperatures a single defect placed on the outer nanotube can significantly reduces axial oscillation energy leakage by impeding intertube rotational modes, and therefore mitigates the frictional effects between sliding nanotubes.