STUDY ON THE HYDROTHERMAL GROWTH OF ZnO NANORODS FOR PIEZOTRONIC APPLICATIONS

The capability of a certain material to generate an electric charge in response to applied mechanical stress is called as piezoelectric Effect. Metal oxidesemiconductors having high piezoelectric coefficient can be cost effectively manufactured by a simple hydrothermal methods at low temperature. These nanostructures are capable of transforming mechanical deformation into electrical power. The nanostructure morphologies and dimensions can be controlled by controlling the growth conditions. When subjected to mechanical deformations, these nanostructures are capable of transforming mechanical deformation into electrical power. Due to the structural noncentralsymmetry,ZnO nanostructures exhibit anisotropic piezoelectric properties. High aspect ratio ZnO nanostructures can be merely designed using hydrothermal methods and these nanowires or nanorods show piezoelectric properties. When subjected to mechanical deformations, these nanostructures undergo a charge separation due to inherent structural asymmetry. Tapping of the separated charges and subsequent accumulation can give a manifestation of mechanical to electrical energy transformation and lead to energy harvesting.