Piezoresistive Response of Quasi-One-Dimensional ZnO Nanowires Using an in Situ Electromechanical Device

Quasi-one-dimensional structures from metal oxides have shown remarkable potentials with regard to their applicability in advanced technologies ranging from ultraresponsive nanoelectronic devices to advanced healthcare tools. Particularly due to the piezoresistive effects, zinc oxide (ZnO)-based nanowires showed outstanding performance in a large number of applications, including energy harvesting, flexible electronics, smart sensors, etc. In the present work, we demonstrate the versatile crystal engineering of ZnO nano- and microwires (up to centimeter length scales) by a simple flame transport process. To investigate the piezoresistive properties, particular ZnO nanowires were integrated on an electrical push-to-pull device, which enables the application of tensile strain and measurement of in situ electrical properties. The results from ZnO nanowires revealed a periodic variation in stress with respect to the applied periodic potential, which has been discussed in terms of defect relaxations.