Repulsive van der Waals forces and Brownian ratchet motors: manipulating thermal and quantum Fluctuations

微米级以下的抛光机和机械装置的一个基本问题是摩擦和润滑问题。一种完全规避润滑需求的方法是使用一种很少研究的现象，称为“排斥货车德瓦尔斯力”，以创造在某些流体环境中基本上相互排斥的材料。这种效应在纳米尺度上非常大，这项提案研究了如何利用这种力来制造“无润滑剂”的马达和纳米机器。这将为构建小型便携式传感器、致动器、微流体设备以及最终用于健康应用的主动药物输送系统提供可能性。

A fundamental problem with miniaturizing machines and mechanical devices below the micron scale is the issue of friction and lubrication. One way to completely circumvent the need for lubrication is to use a little-studied phenomenon known as 'repulsive van der Waals forces', to create materials that fundamentally repel each other in certain fluid environments. This effect is very large at the nanoscale and this proposal examines how such forces can be used to make 'lubricant free' motors and nanomachines. This will open up the possibility of building small and portable sensors, actuators, microfluidic devices and eventually active drug delivery systems for health applications.