UC Berkeley physicists first deposited a multiwalled carbon nanotube on a silicon surface, then patterned a rotor, stators, anchors and leads made of gold using electron beam lithography. They then selectively etched the silicon to create a trough beneath the rotor with sufficient clearance for the rotor to rotate.
The close-up shows the nanotube attached to the center of the rotor plate. When the outer tube is sheared, the rotor is able to spin freely on the nanotube bearing. (Video courtesy of Noah Bodzin/UC Berkeley) © 2003 Alex Zettl. All rights reserved.

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