Single micro/nanowire pyroelectric nanogenerators as self-powered temperature sensors

We demonstrated the first application of a pyroelectric nanogenerator as a self-powered sensor (or active sensor) for detecting a change in temperature. The device consists of a single lead zirconate titanate (PZT) micro/nanowire that is placed on a thin glass substrate and bonded at its two ends, and it is packaged by polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). By using the device to touch a heat source, the output voltage linearly increases with an increasing rate of change in temperature. The response time and reset time of the fabricated sensor are about 0.9 and 3 s, respectively. The minimum detecting limit of the change in temperature is about 0.4 K at room temperature. The sensor can be used to detect the temperature of a finger tip. The electricity generated under a large change in temperature can light up a liquid crystal display (LCD).