Single crystalline lead zirconate titanate (PZT) nano/micro-wire based self-powered UV sensor

Ultra-long and flexible single-crystalline lead zirconate titanate Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 (PZT) nano/micro-wires (N/MWs) were synthesized via a hydrothermal method. Owing to the self-polarization effect of the as-synthesized PZT N/MWs, the N/MWs can be used to directly fabricate a nanogenerator (NG) without being poled under electric field. Using such an NG, we demonstrated a flexible, self-powered system for detecting UV irradiance by utilizing the cycled contraction-expansion of a flexible rubber membrane.

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► Ultra-long and flexible single crystalline PZT nano/micro-wires were synthesized.
► The single wire PZT nanogenerator can be driven by tiny mechanical movements.
► Some characters of ferroelectric nanowire based nanogenerator has been studied.
► The nanogenerator shows strong robustness.
► A pulse movement driven self-powered UV sensor was demonstrated.