Performance evaluation of nanogenerators based on Ag doped ZnO nanorods

Pure and Ag doped zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal synthesis method on the surface of indium doped tin oxide (ITO) coated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate to answer a question whether or not Ag is a suitable dopant for flexible piezoelectric nanogenerators based on ZnO nanorods. The size distribution analysis of ZnO nanograins in the seed layer, pure and Ag doped ZnO nanorod arrays by using Lifshitz-Slyozov-Wagner (LSW) model indicates that the Ag impurity reduces the growth activation energy of ZnO nanorods. The room temperature photoluminescence emission intensity of doped ZnO nanorods changes versus concentration. The performance measurements of nanogenerators indicate a reproducible behavior of devices under periodic bending/releasing cycles and a linear relationship of open circuit voltage (V-oc) and force. The piezovoltage measurements show a reduction of Voc and sensitivity of pure samples from similar to 8.4 mV and 26.25 mV/N, respectively, to 5.2 mV and 20.00 mV/N by adding silver impurity into ZnO nanorods. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.