Modeling the open circuit output voltage of piezoelectric nanogenerator

Piezoelectric nanogenerators (NGs) have been developed for converting mechanical energy into electric energy using ZnO, GaN, ZnSnO3, and PZT nanowires. Due to the unique polarity and non-central symmetry of the wurtzite structure, a composite made of using the conical shaped nanowires are used as a simple, cost-effective, and scalable nanogenerator. Based on the finite element methods, the output voltage of the nanogenerator is modeled numerically. The key factors: the spatial location of nanowires, length and dip angle of nanowires, thickness of NG devices, and the physical properties of the polymer inside NGs, which affect the output voltage are studied. The results provide guidance for optimization the output of piezoelectric nanogenerators.