Abstract
This paper presents a highly cost-effective design for an aluminum (Al) foil-based ZnO/Ag/ZnO-stacked piezoelectric nanogenerator (ZAZ-NG) fabricated using radio frequency magnetron sputtering. Both Al foil sheets and a silver (Ag) paste layer are utilized to make a ZAZ-NG composed of an Ag paste layer sandwiched between two zinc oxide (ZnO) layers. The output voltages of the ZAZ-NGs with various ZnO thicknesses are measured for three different bending strains. As a result, the devices could generate a relatively high peak-to-peak output voltage (Vpp) of up to 2.5 V, which is 28 times higher than that of the single ZnO layered device. In addition, the device performance shows a strong dependence on the thickness of the ZnO layer. Moreover, the ZAG-NG device is structurally stable and can be fabricated using cost-effective methods.
Highlights
Over the past several decades, researchers have developed various thin-film-based harvesters that contain lead (Pb) components due to their large output voltages.1–3 most of the leadcontaining energy harvesters are known to be unsuitable for wearable and medical devices related to human body applications that demand biocompatible and non-toxic materials
In the conversion process from external mechanical energy to electrical energy, the piezoelectric ZAZ-NG constantly receives a tensile or compressive stress or strain, which may weaken the adhesion between the top and bottom parts of the device causing them to fall apart. Another factor that may degrade the output voltage is the inter-film strains due to the individually different thermal expansion coefficients (TECs) of the multilayers consisted of different materials, leading to film delamination or cracking
We have developed a cost-effective, structurally strong Al foil-based, sandwich-type zinc oxide (ZnO) piezoelectric nanogenerator called a ZAZ-NG
Summary
Over the past several decades, researchers have developed various thin-film-based harvesters that contain lead (Pb) components due to their large output voltages. most of the leadcontaining energy harvesters are known to be unsuitable for wearable and medical devices related to human body applications that demand biocompatible and non-toxic materials. Most of the leadcontaining energy harvesters are known to be unsuitable for wearable and medical devices related to human body applications that demand biocompatible and non-toxic materials. This has led to the development of non-toxic, biocompatible, and lead-free energy harvesters fabricated using zinc oxide (ZnO), aluminum nitride (AlN), and barium titanate (BaTiO3).. Some studies have attempted the adoption of Al foil as the substrate to fabricate photocatalysts and piezoelectric nanogenerators.. To our knowledge, there have been no studies utilizing Al foil as substrates to fabricate Al foil-based, sandwich-type ZnO piezoelectric nanogenerators, such as that proposed here ZnO-based devices have been studied using ZnO nanorods, ZnO nanowires, and sputter-deposited ZnO thin films. Some studies have attempted the adoption of Al foil as the substrate to fabricate photocatalysts and piezoelectric nanogenerators.
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