What is a Nanogenerator?

Nano generator is a nano generator based on regular zinc oxide nanowires. It is the smallest generator in the world that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy in the nanometer range. Nano generators can be divided into 3 categories at present.

Nano generator

Nano generator is a nano generator based on regular zinc oxide nanowires. It is the smallest generator in the world that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy in the nanometer range. Nano generators can be divided into 3 categories at present.

One type is a piezoelectric nano-generator, which uses a special nano-material (zinc oxide) ^[1]

First, the principle of piezoelectric nano-generator

Zinc oxide has a dual effect of semiconductor and piezoelectric. The Schottky barrier guarantees the ability of zinc oxide to output unidirectional current. Because the semiconductor has metal contact, the electron work function of zinc oxide is smaller than that of a platinum electrode. The electrons flow from the zinc oxide into the probe (platinum electrode). The zinc oxide shows a positive charge, forming a form similar to a PN junction. When the external electric field goes from the platinum electrode to the zinc oxide, the internal electrons can flow and output current.

When the zinc oxide wire is bent, potentials on both sides are generated. Due to the relative movement of oxygen ions and zinc ions, a negative charge is displayed in a compressed place and a positive charge is shown in a stretched place. The platinum probe can be regarded as a zero potential. When only the probe is placed on the compressed side, the potential difference generated shows positive electricity, which is equivalent to the PN being turned on and generating a current in the external circuit. On the contrary, it is equivalent to the reverse saturation current of the PN junction, and the current is small, and no voltage output can be generated.

2. Friction nano generator ^[2]

For piezoelectric generators ^[3]

The invention of the nano-generator was rated as one of the top ten science and technology advancements in the world by the academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2006; in 2008, it was selected by the British "Physics World" as one of the world's major advances in science and technology; One of the top ten innovative technologies; ScienceWatch focused on the process and significance of Professor Wang's invention of nano-generators in a journal on energy and fuel; the British New Scientist magazine ranked nano-generators in the next ten to ten One of the ten important technologies that can have the same importance and influence as the invention of the mobile phone after thirty years ^[4] .