A High-Reliability Kevlar Fiber-ZnO Nanowires Hybrid Nanogenerator and its Application on Self-Powered UV Detection

A microfiber-nanowire hybrid structure is the fundamental component for a wearable piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG) for harvesting body motion energy. Here, a novel approach combining surface coating and plasma etching techniques is reported to enhance the mechanical reliability of Kevlar microfiber-ZnO nanowires (NWs) hybrid structure that is used for PENG. After treatment, the hybrid structure has dramatically improved high flexibility, robustness, and durability. On the basis of the coupled piezoelectric and semiconducting properties of ZnO, the processed Kevlar fibers covered with ZnO NWs are utilized to fabricate a 2D nanogenerator (2DNG). The open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current of the 2DNG are 1.8 mV and 4.8 pA, respectively. Furthermore, the 2DNG is successfully employed to quantitatively detect UV intensity from 0.2 to 1 mW cm(-2) as a self-powered system.