A high performance PZT ribbon-based nanogenerator using graphene transparent electrodes

Abstract

We report a simple and effective approach for high performance PbZr_0.52Ti_0.48O₃ (PZT) based flexible and semi-transparent NGs that exploit the electrical, mechanical and transparent properties of graphene. PZT NGs are successfully demonstrated for continuous driving of a liquid crystal display screen and a light emitting diode. A good quality PZT film was deposited on Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si wafer by the sol–gel method, exhibiting a typical hysteresis loop in the low voltage region. A graphene film was used in the interdigitated electrode form to improve the PZT/graphene interface under mechanical stress. Further improvement in NGs performance was realized by p-type doping in graphene, resulting in an increase in current density. NGs showed a high output voltage ∼2 V, current density ∼2.2 μA cm⁻² and power density ∼88 mW cm⁻³ at an applying force of 0.9 kgf. This can efficiently run commercially available electronic components in a self-powered mode, without any external electrical supply.