INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW FIELD

OF

NANOPIEZOTRONICS

AND ITS APPLICATION IN

NANOGENERATORS
 Contents
• What is NANOPIEZOTRONICS

• Materials that show Nanopiezoelectricity

• Principle of Nanopiezotronics

• Application in NANAOGENERATORS

• Future scope
 Nanopiezotronics

Nano : derived from Greek word meaning "dwarf”

denoting a factor of 10−9

Piezo : means to squeeze or to press

-tronics :  a suffix referring to a device, tool, or

instrument
 Piezoelectric effect
Definition: ability of some materials to generate an
electric potential in response to applied mechanical
stress.
 A question of structure

Centrosymmetry Non-centrosymmetry

Ref. [2]
 Which material?
In nature :
- Quartz
- Topaz
- Cane sugar
- Bones

Human-made :

- some crystals
- even some polymers
- but mainly ceramics

in particular : ZnO
 ZnO (Zinc Oxide)

Structure 
Comes in two different types of crystal

Blende Wurtzite
Blende
Wurtzite
 ZnO : the perfect material

WHY ZnO?

• ZnO is a wide-band gap(3.37 eV) semiconductor that has

huge potential for electronic, optoelectronic, and optical
applications.

• It can tolerate large amounts of deformation without

damage
• These are biocompatible, allowing their
use in the body without toxic effects.

• ZnO has polar surfaces. The electrostatic

interaction energy and distinct chemical
activities of the polar surfaces results in
the formation of a wide range of
structures, such as
Nanowires, Nanorings, Nanobelts, and
Nanohelices.
Principle of Nanopiezotronics
 Nanogenerator Principles

• Piezoelectric effect
Stress  electric field/potential distribution

Ref. [10]
 Nanowire contacts

• Bottom ohmic contact:

work function < electron affinity of ZnO

• Top Contact: Schottky diode:

work function > electron affinity of ZnO
Potential build up and discharge made possible by the
Schottky barrier

Ref. [10]
 Direct current Nanogenerator driven by
ultrasonic waves

• AFM tip replaced by zigzag electrode

• Vertically aligned array of ZnO NW

Ref. [11]
Different configuration possibilities of the NW in respect
to the zigzag electrode
 Upcoming Technology

Researchers at Georgia Tech are developing a

“power shirt” capable of running portable electronic
gadgets. Clothing woven with fibers containing
microscopic “nanogenerators” will use piezoelectric
effects to convert the wearer’s movements into
electrical energy.

According to Georgia Tech, the nanogenerator-

impregnated fibers could also find use in curtains,
tents, and other flexible structures, enabling the
harvesting of energy from wind motion, sound
vibration, or other mechanical energy.