Ultra-Stable and Durable Piezoelectric Nanogenerator with All-Weather Service Capability Based on N Doped 4H-SiC Nanohole Arrays

Ultra-stable piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG) driven by environmental actuation sources with all-weather service capability is highly desirable. Here, the PENG based on N doped 4H-SiC nanohole arrays (NHAs) is proposed to harvest ambient energy under low/high temperature and relative humidity (RH) conditions. Finite element method simulation of N doped 4H-SiC NHAs in compression mode is developed to evaluate the relationship between nanohole diameter and piezoelectric performance. The density of short circuit current of the assembled PENG reaches 313 nA cm(-2), which is 1.57 times the output of PENG based on N doped 4H-SiC nanowire arrays. The enhancement can be attributed to the existence of nanohole sidewalls in NHAs. All-weather service capability of the PENG is verified after being treated at -80/80 celcius and 0%/100% RH for 50 days. The PENG is promising to be widely used in practice worldwide to harvest biomechanical energy and mechanical energy.

Automated summary

In this study, an ultra-stable piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG) based on N doped 4H-SiC nanohole arrays (NHAs) is proposed for harvesting ambient energy under different temperature and humidity conditions. The simulation results show a relationship between nanohole diameter and piezoelectric performance. The assembled PENG exhibits a high short circuit current density and demonstrates all-weather service capability even after 50 days of treatment.