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Science 14 April 2006:
Vol. 312. no. 5771, pp. 242 - 246
DOI: 10.1126/science.1124005
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Reports

Piezoelectric Nanogenerators Based on Zinc Oxide Nanowire Arrays

Zhong Lin Wang1,2,3* and Jinhui Song1

We have converted nanoscale mechanical energy into electrical energy by means of piezoelectric zinc oxide nanowire (NW) arrays. The aligned NWs are deflected with a conductive atomic force microscope tip in contact mode. The coupling of piezoelectric and semiconducting properties in zinc oxide creates a strain field and charge separation across the NW as a result of its bending. The rectifying characteristic of the Schottky barrier formed between the metal tip and the NW leads to electrical current generation. The efficiency of the NW-based piezoelectric power generator is estimated to be 17 to 30%. This approach has the potential of converting mechanical, vibrational, and/or hydraulic energy into electricity for powering nanodevices.

1 School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
2 Department of Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
3 National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100080, China.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: zhong.wang{at}mse.gatech.edu

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