Stretchable nanogenerator for optoelectronics

Abstract

Flexible and stretchable optoelectronics have attracted attention in recent years due to their remarkable capabilities for use in wearable computers, personal monitors, and other systems. These devices can be attached to human skin or fabrics due to mechanical compliance, which is extremely suitable for biomedical or clinical applications, such as bionic devices, monitors, or curing diseases. Recent advanced studies on flexible and stretchable electronic devices and optoelectronics have made possible a variety of soft and performant electronic devices. The paper is focused on the stretchable battery that has great potential to power stretchable light-emitting diode (LED) arrays and other sensors attached on the human body, such as temperature sensors or wearable electrocardiography systems. The stretchable, microfabricated nanogenerator could be attached on the skin or fabrics and will produce energy based on the movements of the human body. The device was fabricated on a polymeric, elastomeric, poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) sheet. It consists of a piezoelectric thin film of ZnO sandwiched between two stretchable gold electrodes. An innovative technique was used for the deposition of ZnO thin film on the gold electrode-coated polymeric substrate at low temperatures below 150 °C. This is the first attempt to use a uniform film of ZnO, for energy harvesting. We demonstrated that under a strain of 8% the voltage output from this power generator was equal to 2 V and the power output was equal to 160 μW.