Enhanced performance of triboelectric nanogenerators integrated with ZnO nanowires

We report a hybrid nanogenerator matrix integrated with ZnO nanowires (NWs) for the use of combined triboelectric and piezoelectric features, where the ZnO NWs are grown on bottom electrodes via a hydrothermal method. Along with structural properties analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, the hybrid nanogenerator displayed an output power density of 0.21 mW/cm2, which was higher than that of the triboelectric nanogenerator without NWs. Therefore, our approach can allow for the enhancement of electrical output, with a view toward the realization of functional and self-powered devices of high performance in portable electronics, such as power source and electric self-powered sensor systems.