Article Title

Functional nanogenerators as vibration sensors enhanced by piezotronic effects

Authors

Zheng Zhang, State Key Laboratory for Advanced Metals and Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Qingliang Liao, State Key Laboratory for Advanced Metals and Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Xiaoqin Yan, State Key Laboratory for Advanced Metals and Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Zhong Lin Wang, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0245, USA Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100083, China
Wenduo Wang, State Key Laboratory for Advanced Metals and Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Xu Sun, State Key Laboratory for Advanced Metals and Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Pei Lin, State Key Laboratory for Advanced Metals and Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Yunhua Huang, State Key Laboratory for Advanced Metals and Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Yue Zhang, State Key Laboratory for Advanced Metals and Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China Key Laboratory of New Energy Materials and Technologies, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China

Keywords

functional nanogenerator, ZnO nanowires arrays, piezotronic effects, piezoelectric effects, vibration sensor

Abstract

ZnO nanomaterials have been shown to have novel applications in optoelectronics, energy harvesting and piezotronics, due to their coupled semiconducting and piezoelectric properties. Here a functional nanogenerator (FNG) based on ZnO nanowire arrays has been fabricated, which can be employed to detect vibration in both self-powered (SP) and external-powered (EP) modes. In SP mode, the vibration responses of the FNG can be measured through converting mechanical energy directly into an electrical signal. The FNG shows consistent alternating current responses (relative error < 0.37%) at regular frequencies from 1 to 15 Hz. In EP mode, the current responses of FNG are significantly enhanced via the piezotronic effect. Under a forward bias of 3 V, the sensor presented a sensitivity of 3700% and an accurate measurement (relative error < 0.91%) of vibration frequencies in the range 0.05–15 Hz. The results show that this type of functional nanogenerator sensor can detect vibration in both SP and EP modes according to the demands of the applications.

Graphical Abstract

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-013-0386-7

Publisher

Tsinghua University Press

Recommended Citation

Zheng Zhang,Qingliang Liao,Xiaoqin Yan,Zhong Lin Wang,Wenduo Wang,Xu Sun,Pei Lin,Yunhua Huang,Yue Zhang, Functional nanogenerators as vibration sensors enhanced by piezotronic effects. NanoRes.2014, 7(2): 190–198