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Functional nanogenerators as vibration sensors enhanced by piezotronic effects

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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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory for Advanced Metals and Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China

    Zheng Zhang, Qingliang Liao, Xiaoqin Yan, Wenduo Wang, Xu Sun, Pei Lin, Yunhua Huang & Yue Zhang

  2. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, 30332-0245, USA

    Zhong Lin Wang

  3. Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100083, China

    Zhong Lin Wang

  4. Key Laboratory of New Energy Materials and Technologies, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China

    Yue Zhang

Authors
  1. Zheng Zhang
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  2. Qingliang Liao
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  3. Xiaoqin Yan
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  4. Zhong Lin Wang
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  5. Wenduo Wang
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  6. Xu Sun
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  7. Pei Lin
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  8. Yunhua Huang
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  9. Yue Zhang
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Correspondence to Yue Zhang.

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These two authors contributed equally to this work.

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Zhang, Z., Liao, Q., Yan, X. et al. Functional nanogenerators as vibration sensors enhanced by piezotronic effects. Nano Res. 7, 190–198 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-013-0386-7

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

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