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Functional electrical stimulation by nanogenerator with 58 V output voltage
Guang Zhu1, Aurelia C Wang, Ying Liu
1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0245, United States.
Nano Letters
|May 19, 2012
Summary
This study presents a novel piezoelectric nanogenerator using zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires. The device achieved record power output and successfully stimulated frog nerve and muscle activity.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Piezoelectric nanogenerators are promising for powering micro/nano devices.
- Developing efficient and integrated nanogenerators remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a new integrated nanogenerator based on vertically aligned piezoelectric zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires.
- To evaluate its electrical output and potential biomedical applications.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of nanogenerator arrays using vertically aligned ZnO nanowires.
- Measurement of open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, and power density.
- In-vivo testing of the nanogenerator's electrical output on a frog's sciatic nerve and gastrocnemius muscle.
Main Results:
- Achieved a record peak open-circuit voltage of 58 V and short-circuit current of 134 μA.
- Demonstrated a maximum power density of 0.78 W/cm³.
- Successfully induced nerve innervation and muscle contraction in a frog model.
Conclusions:
- The developed ZnO nanowire nanogenerator offers high performance and potential for biomedical applications.
- This technology could enable self-powered implantable devices or neural stimulation systems.
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