1.6 V Nanogenerator for Mechanical Energy Harvesting Using PZT Nanofibers

• Published in: Nano letters 2010-06, Vol.10 (6), p.2133-2137
• Main Authors: Chen, Xi, Xu, Shiyou, Yao, Nan, Shi, Yong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; General equipment and techniques; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Materials science; Molecular electronics, nanoelectronics; Nanocrystalline materials; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Physics; Quantum wires; Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices; Sensors (chemical, optical, electrical, movement, gas, etc.); remote sensing
• ISSN: 1530-6984; 1530-6992
• DOI: 10.1021/nl100812k

Energy harvesting technologies that are engineered to miniature sizes, while still increasing the power delivered to wireless electronics, , portable devices, stretchable electronics, and implantable biosensors, , are strongly desired. Piezoelectric nanowire- and nanofiber-based generators have potential uses for powering such devices through a conversion of mechanical energy into electrical energy. However, the piezoelectric voltage constant of the semiconductor piezoelectric nanowires in the recently reported piezoelectric nanogenerators – is lower than that of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) nanomaterials. Here we report a piezoelectric nanogenerator based on PZT nanofibers. The PZT nanofibers, with a diameter and length of approximately 60 nm and 500 μm, were aligned on interdigitated electrodes of platinum fine wires and packaged using a soft polymer on a silicon substrate. The measured output voltage and power under periodic stress application to the soft polymer was 1.63 V and 0.03 μW, respectively.