Carbon nanotubes for nanorobotics

The well-defined geometry, exceptional mechanical properties, and extraordinary electrical characteristics of carbon nanotubes qualify them for structuring nanoelectronic circuits, nanoelectromechanical systems, and nanorobotic systems. Relative displacements between the atomically smooth, nested shells in multiwalled carbon nanotubes can be used as robust nanoscale motion enabling mechanisms for applications such as bearings, switches, gigahertz oscillators, shuttles, memories, syringes, and actuators. The hollow structures of carbon nanotubes can serve as containers, conduits, pipettes, and coaxial cables for storing mass and charge, or for transport. Not only can nanotubes serve as building blocks for more complex structures, tools, sensors, and actuators, but they can also be used as fundamental components for future nanorobots. We review the technological progress on carbon nanotubes related to nanorobotics.