ZnO nanorods for energy generation and harvesting Online publication date: Mon, 27-May-2013
by Indrani Dakua; Nitin Afzulpurkar
International Journal of Precision Technology (IJPTECH), Vol. 3, No. 2, 2013
Abstract: Hydrothermal methods have been used for synthesising one-dimensional ZnO nanorods. These nanorods are found to be highly piezoelectric, i.e., they generate a potential when subjected to mechanical bending or deformations. Main concerns have been the harvesting of that energy and transferring them to the outside world. This can be achieved by an electrode capable of touching the nanorod tips during the bending process. In this work, we synthesise vertically standing ZnO nanorods at low temperature (below the boiling point of water) using a simple hydrothermal route. Glass substrates rendered conducting by a layer of tin-doped indium oxides were used for growing the piezoelectric nanorods. These nanorods were subjected to bending, such that piezo-potentials were generated on the tips with respect to their bases. A gold-sputtered electrode was placed on top of the nanorod array to touch them softly at the tips. Piezo-potential generated was extracted using this electrode.
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