Enhanced performance of a flexible and wearable piezoelectric nanogenerator using semi-insulating GaN:Mg/ZnO coaxial nanowires

Abstract

Flexible piezoelectric nanogenerators (PNGs) with high power-conversion efficiency are of great interest. Here, we propose wearable PNGs based on pristine magnesium (Mg)-doped GaN (GaN:Mg) and GaN:Mg/ZnO coaxial nanowires (NWs) exhibiting state-of-the-art high-voltage and -current outputs. The PNGs were designed to suppress internal screening by a reduction in the diameter of the NWs, successful incorporation of Mg in GaN NWs as a p-type dopant, and deposition of a ZnO shell on the GaN:Mg NWs. The Fermi-level pinning reduces free carriers in thin NWs (diameter up to ~30 nm). By tuning the size of the metal–alloy catalyst, we obtained NWs with diameters ranging from 30 to 50 nm. To deplete the NWs fully of free carriers, Mg is incorporated without activation, which enhanced the resistance of GaN:Mg NWs by forming inactive Mg–H complexes. The flexible PNG fabricated with pristine GaN:Mg NWs exhibited the maximum output voltage and current of 52 V and 23 µA, respectively. The junction current screening was suppressed by depositing a ZnO shell with an optimized thickness of 10 nm on GaN:Mg NWs. The PNG fabricated with GaN:Mg/ZnO coaxial NWs showed an enhanced output voltage and current of 66 V and 40 µA and demonstrated a state-of-the-art high power density of 170 µW/cm2 at an optimum load resistance of 2.5 MΩ. When mounted on the wrist as a wearable healthcare monitoring device, it successfully detected the movement of tendons and muscles as soon as the fingers were moved and exhibited a corresponding change in voltage response. Additionally, the charging of a capacitor is proven by the PNG under continuous foot tapping, demonstrating its potential to charge energy storage devices by walking or jogging.