We study the motion of C60 fullerene molecules (buckyballs) and short-length
carbon nanotubes on graphene nanoribbons. We demonstrate that the nanoribbon
edge creates an effective potential that keeps the carbon structures on the
surface. We reveal that the character of the motion of C60 molecules depends on
temperature: for low temperatures (T<150K) the main type of motion is sliding
along the surface, but for higher temperatures the sliding is replaced by
rocking and rolling. Modeling of the buckyball with an included metal ion, such
as Fe@C60, demonstrates that this molecular complex undergoes a rolling motion
along the nanoribbon with the constant velocity under the action of a constant
electric field. The similar effect is observed in the presence of the heat
gradient applied to the nanoribbon, but mobility of carbon structures in this
case depends largely on their size and symmetry, such that larger and more
asymmetric structures demonstrate much lower mobility. Our results suggest that
both electorphoresis and thermophoresis can be employed to control the motion
of carbon molecules and fullerenes and, for example, sort them by their size,
shape, and possible inclusions.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure
