Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Based on ZnO: A Review

This paper reviews the piezoelectricity in the ZnO which having enough feasibility for flexible piezoelectric energy harvesting. ZnO is chosen as a new lead-free replacement material of PZT due to its great advantages for piezoelectric material. The low cost and small-time require for the synthesis of ZnO thin films for industrial requirements arc always a need. The ZnO nanostructures can be used in applications such as foldable or re-formable power sources, artificial skins, touch sensors, and flexible displays. It is also possible for ZnO nanostructures to generate the current and potential under an external mechanical strain. The mechanism of the power generator relies on the piezoelectric and semiconducting properties of ZnO as well as the formation of a Schottky barrier between the metal and ZnO contacts. ZnO is piezoelectric material which is popularly used as one of the pollution-free piezoelectric material and has the additional advantage of flexibility in processing. This paper reviews the reported piezoelectric energy harvesting of ZnO material and piezoelectric device configurations.

Automated summary

ZnO is considered a material with sufficient feasibility for flexible piezoelectric energy harvesting, offering advantages such as low cost, ease of synthesis, and flexibility. ZnO nanostructures can be applied in various fields, with the power generation mechanism relying on its piezoelectric and semiconducting properties.