Molecular dynamics study on oscillation dynamics of a C60 fullerene encapsulated in a vibrating carbon-nanotube-resonator

We investigated the oscillation dynamics of a C60 fullerene encapsulated in a single-walled carbon-nanotube-resonator via classical molecular dynamics simulations. The C60 fullerene positions in a single-walled carbon-nanotube-resonator could be controlled by vibrating the resonator. The C60-fullerene’s oscillations along the tube axis in a vibrating carbon-nanotube-resonator were originated by centrifugal forces exerted at the central position of the vibrating carbon-nanotube, and thus property was very different from its oscillation due to van der Waals forces in the fixed carbon-nanotube. These properties suggest that a carbon-nanotube-resonator encapsulating a C60 fullerene has a potential application for programmable multiple-position devices controlled by the resonance frequency.