Power generation using piezoelectric ZnO nanowires for nano-scale devices

ZnO nanowires can convert mechanical energy into electrical energy and we investigated energy conversion of ZnO nanowires grown on a silicon substrate. First, we numerically studied the output voltages of ZnO nanowires while varying diameters and lengths of ZnO nanowires. Second, we measured the currents of ZnO nanowires grown at low temperature using a solution method. The currents were measured using a Current Atomic Force Microscope (I-AFM). ZnO nanowires produced output current pulses when scanned by I-AFM in contact mode because of the piezoelectric effect of ZnO nanowires when the I-AFM tip applied a lateral force to ZnO nanowires.