ZnO nanorods in energy harvesting devices

Piezoelectric features of ZnO nanorods monolayer in multilayered structure are investigated for energy harvesting application. The sample manufacturing method consists of a traditional microelectronic technique for providing bottom and top electrodes and two-steps low-temperature nanotechnological approach for ZnO nanorods synthesis. To provide a perturbation of the sample, the piezoceramic element was used, while the multilayered structure was manufactured on the glassceramic substrate. Two measurement modes are used: driving the piezoceramic plate by a pure rectangular signal and by a low frequency pulse. The amplitude of the output signal in both cases reaches 200 mV. Obtained results demonstrate the piezoelectric features of monolayer composed of ZnO nanorods which could be successfully applied for development of various self-powered devices.