Low-Frequency Self-Powered Footstep Sensor Based on ZnO Nanowires on Paper Substrate

Abstract

In this work, we design and fabricate a wireless system with the main operating device based on zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires. The main operating device is based on piezoelectric nanogenerator (NG) achieved using ZnO nanowires grown hydrothermally on paper substrate. The fabricated NG is capable of harvesting ambient mechanical energy from various kinds of human motion, e.g., footsteps. The harvested electric output has been used to serve as a self-powered pressure sensor. Without any storage device, the signal from a single footstep has successfully triggered a wireless sensor node circuit. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using ZnO nanowire piezoelectric NG as a low-frequency self-powered sensor, with potential applications in wireless sensor networks.

Fabrication of silver-doped zinc oxide nanorods piezoelectric nanogenerator on cotton fabric to utilize and optimize the charging system

“…In addition, there has been rapid progress on fabricating stretchable or flexible PENGs based on ZnO nanorods. The frequently used flexible substrates are sponge, 23 flexible plastic, 24 polyethylene terephthalate, [25][26][27] paper, [28][29][30] and textile fabric. 31 Among these, textile materials possess mechanical flexibility, low cost, lightweight, and used for integration into different areas such as clothing accessories.…”

A Review on Piezoelectric, Magnetostrictive, and Magnetoelectric Materials and Device Technologies for Energy Harvesting Applications

“…[72] On the basis of the coupled piezoelectric and semiconducting properties of ZnO, the processed Kevlar fibers covered with ZnO nanowires were used to fabricate a 2D nanogenerator (NG). [74] A wind energy harvester was developed by Du et al [75] using a circular silicon plate with several symmetrically distributed rectangular cavities that were covered with ZnO thin films, and the maximum output power density was 23.39 nW cm À2 with a maximum open-circuit output voltage of 2.81 V. ZnO NGs were fabricated for low frequency (< 100 Hz) energy harvesting applications, and various NGs were developed and studied for testing under low frequency mechanical deformation.…”

Recent Advances in Human Motion Excited Energy Harvesting Systems for Wearables

“…Besides powering the pressure sensor, Nour et al demonstrated the feasibility of powering a wireless transmitter and LED display. [ 125 ] Furthermore, the pressure sensors only require a power supply of microwatts level, whereas the foot strike energy harvesters are capable of outputting far more energy. Therefore, Fu et al utilized an airflow energy harvester to fully power a fitness tracker consisting of a pedometer and a Bluetooth module, realizing self‐powered human activity sensing.…”