Modeling and Experimental Study of a Low-Frequency-Vibration-Based Power Generator Using ZnO Nanowire Arrays

A piezoelectric power generator based on ZnO nanowire arrays (NWAs) is proposed for scavenging energy from low-frequency ambient vibration. A low-temperature and low-cost hydrothermal method is employed to grow the uniform ZnO nanowires with the diameters of similar to 70 nm and lengths of similar to 2.5 mu m. A theoretical model is derived to better understand piezoelectric-energy harvesting and to predict the output performance of cylindrical ZnO NWAs. The open-circuit output voltages of the resonant generators at normal and shear modes are 1.1 and 3.59 mV, respectively.