Improved performance of p–n junction-based ZnO nanogenerators through CuSCN-passivation of ZnO nanorods

Nimra Jalali; Peter Wooliams; Mark Stewart; Paul M. Weaver; Markys G. Cain; Steven Dunn; Joe Briscoe

doi:10.1039/C4TA01714E

Improved performance of p–n junction-based ZnO nanogenerators through CuSCN-passivation of ZnO nanorods

Nimra Jalali, Peter Wooliams, Mark Stewart, Paul M. Weaver, Markys G. Cain, Steven Dunn, Joe Briscoe

Energy, Materials and Environment Research Centre

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

60 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Self-powered piezoelectric systems are vital components to harvest ambient waste energy for applications such as autonomous self-powered sensors. ZnO nanorod-based devices are gaining wide attention for energy harvesters as they are easily synthesized at low temperature onto a range of substrates. However, losses related to screening of piezoelectric polarisation charges by free carriers in ZnO nanorods can significantly reduce the output of these devices. This paper reports using copper thiocyanate (CuSCN) to reduce ZnO surface-state-induced parasitic losses and improve power density of ZnO nanorod-based energy harvesters by a factor of 10. The surface modified energy harvester generated 1.07 V as an instantaneous peak open circuit voltage giving a maximum calculated 434 μW cm−2 peak power density associated with release at an acceleration of 50 g. Impedance analysis determined that the device RC time constant (τRC), correlated with device peak voltage, demonstrating a relationship between the screening effects in ZnO and τRC.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	10945-10951
Journal	Journal of Materials Chemistry A
Issue number	28
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TA01714E
Publication status	Published - 8 May 2014

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10.1039/C4TA01714ELicence: Other

Cite this

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title = "Improved performance of p–n junction-based ZnO nanogenerators through CuSCN-passivation of ZnO nanorods",

abstract = "Self-powered piezoelectric systems are vital components to harvest ambient waste energy for applications such as autonomous self-powered sensors. ZnO nanorod-based devices are gaining wide attention for energy harvesters as they are easily synthesized at low temperature onto a range of substrates. However, losses related to screening of piezoelectric polarisation charges by free carriers in ZnO nanorods can significantly reduce the output of these devices. This paper reports using copper thiocyanate (CuSCN) to reduce ZnO surface-state-induced parasitic losses and improve power density of ZnO nanorod-based energy harvesters by a factor of 10. The surface modified energy harvester generated 1.07 V as an instantaneous peak open circuit voltage giving a maximum calculated 434 μW cm−2 peak power density associated with release at an acceleration of 50 g. Impedance analysis determined that the device RC time constant (τRC), correlated with device peak voltage, demonstrating a relationship between the screening effects in ZnO and τRC.",

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AU - Jalali, Nimra

AU - Wooliams, Peter

AU - Stewart, Mark

AU - Weaver, Paul M.

AU - Cain, Markys G.

AU - Dunn, Steven

AU - Briscoe, Joe

PY - 2014/5/8

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N2 - Self-powered piezoelectric systems are vital components to harvest ambient waste energy for applications such as autonomous self-powered sensors. ZnO nanorod-based devices are gaining wide attention for energy harvesters as they are easily synthesized at low temperature onto a range of substrates. However, losses related to screening of piezoelectric polarisation charges by free carriers in ZnO nanorods can significantly reduce the output of these devices. This paper reports using copper thiocyanate (CuSCN) to reduce ZnO surface-state-induced parasitic losses and improve power density of ZnO nanorod-based energy harvesters by a factor of 10. The surface modified energy harvester generated 1.07 V as an instantaneous peak open circuit voltage giving a maximum calculated 434 μW cm−2 peak power density associated with release at an acceleration of 50 g. Impedance analysis determined that the device RC time constant (τRC), correlated with device peak voltage, demonstrating a relationship between the screening effects in ZnO and τRC.

AB - Self-powered piezoelectric systems are vital components to harvest ambient waste energy for applications such as autonomous self-powered sensors. ZnO nanorod-based devices are gaining wide attention for energy harvesters as they are easily synthesized at low temperature onto a range of substrates. However, losses related to screening of piezoelectric polarisation charges by free carriers in ZnO nanorods can significantly reduce the output of these devices. This paper reports using copper thiocyanate (CuSCN) to reduce ZnO surface-state-induced parasitic losses and improve power density of ZnO nanorod-based energy harvesters by a factor of 10. The surface modified energy harvester generated 1.07 V as an instantaneous peak open circuit voltage giving a maximum calculated 434 μW cm−2 peak power density associated with release at an acceleration of 50 g. Impedance analysis determined that the device RC time constant (τRC), correlated with device peak voltage, demonstrating a relationship between the screening effects in ZnO and τRC.

U2 - 10.1039/C4TA01714E

DO - 10.1039/C4TA01714E

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