A research team led by Professor Wang Zhonglin, a renowned nanotechnology expert from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, has recently developed a groundbreaking type of fiber capable of generating electricity through motion. This innovative technology is known as a fiber nanogenerator, which was first introduced in previous years. Now, Chinese scientists have further advanced this concept, making significant progress in the field of nano-power generation.
Published in *Nature*, the article highlights that Professor Wang Zhonglin’s team has made another major breakthrough in the area of nano-energy. Following their development of DC nanogenerators, they successfully converted low-frequency vibrations from elastic fibers into electrical energy by growing zinc oxide nanowires on them. This advancement opens up new possibilities for harvesting energy from everyday movements.
Wang Zhonglin, who serves as the overseas director of the National Nano Center and a senior researcher at Georgia Tech, has been at the forefront of nanotechnology research since 2006. That year, he invented the first nano-generator and later developed a DC generator. He also introduced the revolutionary concept of piezotronics, based on the unique properties of zinc oxide, which exhibits both semiconductor and piezoelectric characteristics. When stretched or compressed, curved zinc oxide nanowires can generate positive and negative potentials, respectively. The Schottky barrier between the zinc oxide and the metal electrode helps regulate charge accumulation and release, enabling efficient conversion of mechanical energy into electricity.
In early 2007, Wang’s team applied the principles of piezotronics to develop a nanogenerator model that could absorb external mechanical energy and convert it into electricity using ultrasonic waves. This prototype generated hundreds of nanoamperes of current under ultrasound. However, Wang noted that the current output from the two-fiber system is still limited due to high internal resistance and small contact areas. To address this, his team is working on improving the performance of the fiber-based nanogenerator. For instance, by pre-coating the fibers with a conductive layer before growing zinc oxide nanowires, they can significantly reduce internal resistance and boost the output current. Increasing the number of fibers is another strategy to enhance energy output.
The article's reviewers praised the study as "a very creative and groundbreaking achievement," calling the researchers' approach "revolutionary." Wang believes that these innovations will expand the application of nanogenerators in biotechnology, nanodevices, portable electronics, and even defense technologies.
He emphasized that nanotechnology has evolved from basic material studies to the development of functional nanodevices, such as nanosensors, nano-motors, and even nano-robots. However, traditional power sources like batteries are still used to power these miniaturized systems. Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop scalable, nano-level power solutions to support the continued miniaturization and integration of nanotechnology.
So far, the research has attracted attention from major international media outlets, including BBC, NBC, PBS, and National Geographic, highlighting its significance in the scientific community.
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