Synthesis of Ga-doped ZnO nanorods using an aqueous solution method for a piezoelectric nanogenerator

J Nanosci Nanotechnol. 2012 Apr;12(4):3430-3. doi: 10.1166/jnn.2012.5632.

Abstract

Mechanical energy is a potential energy source for self-powered electronic devices. Due to their unique semiconducting and piezoelectric properties, wurtzite-structured nanomaterials have been considered as potential candidates for piezoelectric nanogenerators that convert mechanical energy into electricity. In the present work, we report on the growth of Ga-doped ZnO (GZO) nanorods and investigate the performance of nanogenerators fabricated from undoped ZnO (UZO) nanorods, low Ga-doped ZnO (LGZO) nanorods, and high Ga-doped ZnO (HGZO) nanorods. A nanogenerator integrated with LGZO nanorods exhibited a current density of 1.2 microA/cm2, an enhancement over the 0.4 microA/cm2 and 0.7 microA/cm2 current densities of nanogenerators integrated with UZO and HGZO nanorods, respectively.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Gallium / chemistry*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Nanotubes*
  • Solutions
  • Water
  • Zinc Oxide / chemistry*

Substances

  • Solutions
  • Water
  • Gallium
  • Zinc Oxide