1 - Piezoelectricity of 2D materials and its applications toward mechanical energy harvesting

Abstract

In recent years, research on two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials has become one of the leading topics in condensed matter physics and materials science. The noncentrosymmetric structure of the 2D layered materials exhibits great potential for nanoscale electromechanical systems and electronic devices. In one hand, the 2D piezoelectric materials are easy to integrate with the state-of-the-art electronic technologies. On the other hand, the possible combination of piezoelectricity with other unusual properties in 2D materials may give birth to new physics and innovative devices design for novel applications. In this chapter, we present an overview of recent breakthroughs in piezoelectricity of 2D materials and their applications toward mechanical energy harvesting, covering from the fundamental principles to their vast applications in mechanical energy harvesting and adaptive electronics/optoelectronics. Considering the development so far, a concise discussion of possible future strategy in this research field is presented.