Flexible nanogenerators that efficiently convert mechanical energy into electrical energy have been extensively studied because of their great potential for driving low-power personal electronics and self-powered sensors. Integration of flexibility and stretchability to nanogenerator has important research significance that enables applications in flexible/stretchable electronics, organic optoelectronics, and wearable electronics. Progress in nanogenerators for mechanical energy harvesting is reviewed, mainly including two key technologies: flexible piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) and flexible triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). By means of material classification, various approaches of PENGs based on ZnO nanowires, lead zirconate titanate (PZT), poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), 2D materials, and composite materials are introduced. For flexible TENG, its structural designs and factors determining its output performance are discussed, as well as its integration, fabrication and applications. The latest representative achievements regarding the hybrid nanogenerator are also summarized. Finally, some perspectives and challenges in this field are discussed.

Flexible Nanogenerators for Energy Harvesting and Self-Powered Electronics.

The scalable and sustainable production of hydrogen fuel through water splitting demands efficient and robust Earth-abundant catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Building on promising metal compounds with high HER catalytic activity, such as pyrite structure cobalt disulphide (CoS2), and substituting non-metal elements to tune the hydrogen adsorption free energy could lead to further improvements in catalytic activity. Here we present a combined theoretical and experimental study to establish ternary pyrite-type cobalt phosphosulphide (CoPS) as a high-performance Earth-abundant catalyst for electrochemical and photoelectrochemical hydrogen production. Nanostructured CoPS electrodes achieved a geometrical catalytic current density of 10 mA cm(-2) at overpotentials as low as 48 mV, with outstanding long-term operational stability. Integrated photocathodes of CoPS on n(+)-p-p(+) silicon micropyramids achieved photocurrents up to 35 mA cm(-2) at 0 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), onset photovoltages as high as 450 mV versus RHE, and the most efficient solar-driven hydrogen generation from Earth-abundant systems.

https://nanoenergy.kaust.edu.sa/Documents/2015-nmat4410.pdf

Efficient hydrogen evolution catalysis using ternary pyrite-type cobalt phosphosulphide

ZnS nanostructures: From synthesis to applications

We realized photovoltaic operation in large-scale MoS2 monolayers by the formation of a type-II heterojunction with p-Si. The MoS2 monolayer introduces a built-in electric field near the interface between MoS2 and p-Si to help photogenerated carrier separation. Such a heterojunction photovoltaic device achieves a power conversion efficiency of 5.23%, which is the highest efficiency among all monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenide-based solar cells. The demonstrated results of monolayer MoS2/Si-based solar cells hold the promise for integration of 2D materials with commercially available Si-based electronics in highly efficient devices.

https://nanoenergy.kaust.edu.sa/Documents/nn502776h.pdf

Monolayer MoS2 Heterojunction Solar Cells

With the arising of global climate change and resource shortage, in recent years, increased attention has been paid to environmentally friendly materials. Trees are sustainable and renewable materials, which give us shelter and oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Trees are a primary resource that human society depends upon every day, for example, homes, heating, furniture, and aircraft. Wood from trees gives us paper, cardboard, and medical supplies, thus impacting our homes, school, work, and play. All of the above-mentioned applications have been well developed over the past thousands of years. However, trees and wood have much more to offer us as advanced materials, impacting emerging high-tech fields, such as bioengineering, flexible electronics, and clean energy. Wood naturally has a hierarchical structure, composed of well-oriented microfibers and tracheids for water, ion, and oxygen transportation during metabolism. At higher magnification, the walls of fiber cells have an interes...

https://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/pdf2016/fpl_2016_zhu001.pdf

Wood-Derived Materials for Green Electronics, Biological Devices, and Energy Applications.

A hybrid-fiber nanogenerator comprising a ZnO nanowire array, PVDF polymer and two electrodes is presented. Depending on the bending or spreading action of the human arm, at an angle of ∼90°, the hybrid fiber reaches electrical outputs of ∼0.1 V and ∼10 nA cm(-2) . The unique structure of the hybrid fiber may inspire future research in wearable energy-harvesting technology.

https://www.nanoscience.gatech.edu/paper/2012/12_AM_04.pdf

A Hybrid Piezoelectric Structure for Wearable Nanogenerators

Perovskite ferroelectric nanowires have rarely been used for the conversion of tiny mechanical vibrations into electricity, in spite of their large piezoelectricity. Here we present a lead-free NaNbO3 nanowire-based piezoelectric device as a high output and cost-effective flexible nanogenerator. The device consists of a NaNbO3 nanowire–poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) polymer composite and Au/Cr-coated polymer films. High-quality NaNbO3 nanowires can be grown by hydrothermal method at low temperature and can be poled by an electric field at room temperature. The NaNbO3 nanowire–PDMS polymer composite device shows an output voltage of 3.2 V and output current of 72 nA (current density of 16 nA/cm2) under a compressive strain of 0.23%. These results imply that NaNbO3 nanowires should be quite useful for large-scale lead-free piezoelectric nanogenerator applications.

Lead-free NaNbO3 nanowires for a high output piezoelectric nanogenerator

Growth of aligned and uniform α-Fe2O3 nanowire (NW) arrays has been achieved by a vapor–solid process. The experimental conditions, such as type of substrate, local growth and geometrical environment, gas-flow rate, and growth temperature, under which the high density α-Fe2O3 NW arrays can be grown by a vapor–solid route via the tip-growth mechanism have been systematically investigated. The density of the α-Fe2O3 NWs can be enhanced by increasing the concentration of Ni atoms inside the alloy substrate. The synthesized temperature can be as low as 400 °C. Fe3O4 NWs can be produced by converting α-Fe2O3 NWs in a reducing atmosphere at 450 °C. The transformation of phase and structure have been observed by in situ transmission electron microscopy. The magnetic and field-emission properties of the NWs indicate their potential applications in nanodevices.

Systematic study of the growth of aligned arrays of α-Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 nanowires by a vapor-solid process

Catalyst-free p-n homojunction ZnO nanowire (NW) arrays in which the phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn) served as p- and n-type dopants, respectively, have been synthesized for the first time by a controlled in situ doping process for fabricating efficient ultraviolet light-emitting devices. The doping transition region defined as the width for P atoms gradually occupying Zn sites along the growth direction can be narrowed down to sub-50 nm. The cathodoluminescence emission peak at 340 nm emitted from n-type ZnO:Zn NW arrays is likely due to the Burstein-Moss effect in the high electron carrier concentration regime. Further, the electroluminescence spectra from the p-n ZnO NW arrays distinctively exhibit the short-wavelength emission at 342 nm and the blue shift from 342 to 325 nm is observed as the operating voltage further increasing. The ZnO NW p-n homojunctions comprising p-type segment with high electron concentration are promising building blocks for short-wavelength lighting device and photoelectronics.

http://www.nanoscience.gatech.edu/paper/2010/10_NL_05.pdf

Near UV LEDs made with in situ doped p-n homojunction ZnO nanowire arrays

Single-crystal n-type GaN nanowires have been grown epitaxially on a Mg-doped p-type GaN substrate.PiezoelectricnanogneratorsbasedonGaNnanowiresareinvestigatedbyconductive AFM, and the results showed an output power density of nearly 12.5 mW/m 2 . Luminous LED modules based on n-GaN nanowires/p-GaN substrate have been fabricated. CCD images of the

http://www.nanoscience.gatech.edu/paper/2012/12_ACSN_04.pdf

Li-Jen Chou

Papers

A Hybrid Piezoelectric Structure for Wearable Nanogenerators

Lead-free NaNbO3 nanowires for a high output piezoelectric nanogenerator

Systematic study of the growth of aligned arrays of α-Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 nanowires by a vapor-solid process

Near UV LEDs made with in situ doped p-n homojunction ZnO nanowire arrays

Gallium Nitride Nanowire Based Nanogenerators and Light-Emitting Diodes