Novel Enhanced Flexibility of ZnO Nanowires Based Nanogenerators Using Transparent Flexible Top Electrode

The ZnO nanowire (NW)-based nanogenerators (NGs) can have rectifying current and potential generated by the coupled piezoelectric and semiconducting properties of ZnO by variety of external stimulation such as pushing, bending and stretching. So, ZnO NGs needed to enhance durability for stable properties of NGs. The durability of the metal electrodes used in the typical ZnO nanogenerators(NGs) is unstable for both electrical and mechanical stability. Indium tin oxide (ITO) is used as transparent flexible electrode but because of high cost and limited supply of indium, the fragility and lack of flexibility of ITO layers, alternatives are being sought. It is expected that carbon nanotube and Ag nanowire conductive coatings could be a prospective replacement. In this work, we demonstrated transparent flexible ZnO NGs by using CNT/Ag nanowire hybrid electrode, in which electrical and mechanical stability of top electrode has been improved. We grew vertical type ZnO NW by hydrothermal method and ZnO NW was coated with hybrid silicone coating solution as capping layer to enhance adhesion and durability of ZNW. We coated the CNT/Ag nanowire hybrid electrode by using bar coating system on a capping layer. Power generation of the ZnO NG is measured by using a picoammeter, a oscilloscope and confirmed surface condition with FE-SEM. As a results, the NGs using the CNT/Ag NW hybrid electrode show 75% transparency at wavelength 550 nm and small change of the resistance of the electrode after bending test. It will be discussed the effect of the improved flexibility of top electrode on power generation enhancement of ZnO NGs.