Letter abstract
Nature Nanotechnology 4, 34 - 39 (2009)
Published online: 9 November 2008 | doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.314
Subject Categories: Electronic properties and devices | Nanomaterials | Nanosensors and other devices
Power generation with laterally packaged piezoelectric fine wires
Rusen Yang1, Yong Qin1, Liming Dai2 & Zhong Lin Wang1
Abstract
Converting mechanical energy into electricity could have applications in sensing, medical science, defence technology and personal electronics1, and the ability of nanowires to 'scavenge' energy from ambient and environmental sources2, 3, 4 could prove useful for powering nanodevices5, 6, 7, 8. Previously reported nanowire generators9, 10, 11 were based on vertically aligned piezoelectric nanowires that were attached to a substrate at one end and free to move at the other. However, there were problems with the output stability, mechanical robustness, lifetime and environmental adaptability of such devices. Here we report a flexible power generator that is based on cyclic stretching–releasing of a piezoelectric fine wire that is firmly attached to metal electrodes at both ends, is packaged on a flexible substrate, and does not involve sliding contacts. Repeatedly stretching and releasing a single wire with a strain of 0.05–0.1% creates an oscillating output voltage of up to 
50 mV, and the energy conversion efficiency of the wire can be as high as 6.8%.
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0245, USA
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Dayton, Ohio 45469, USA
Correspondence to: Zhong Lin Wang1 e-mail: zlwang@gatech.edu
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