Sam Yeon Cho

Nanogenerators consisting of direct-grown piezoelectrics on multi-walled carbon nanotubes using flexoelectric effects

We report the first attempt to prepare a flexoelectric nanogenerator consisting of direct-grown piezoelectrics on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (mwCNT). Direct-grown piezoelectrics on mwCNTs are formed by a stirring and heating method using a Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 (PZT)-mwCNT precursor solution. We studied the unit cell mismatch and strain distribution of epitaxial PZT nanoparticles, and found that lattice strain is relaxed along the growth direction. A PZT-mwCNT nanogenerator was found to produce a peak output voltage of 8.6 V and an output current of 47 nA when a force of 20 N is applied. Direct-grown piezoelectric nanogenerators generate a higher voltage and current than simple mixtures of PZT and CNTs resulting from the stronger connection between PZT crystals and mwCNTs and an enhanced flexoelectric effect caused by the strain gradient. These experiments represent a significant step toward the application of nanogenerators using piezoelectric nanocomposite materials.

Domain-engineered BiFeO3 thin-film photoanodes for highly enhanced ferroelectric solar water splitting

In photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting, charge separation and collection by the electric field in the photoactive material are the most important factors for improved conversion efficiency. Hence, ferroelectric oxides, in which electrons are the majority carriers, are considered promising photoanode materials because their high built-in potential, provided by their spontaneous polarization, can significantly enhance the separation and drift of photogenerated carriers. In this regard, the PEC properties of BiFeO3 thin-film photoanodes with different crystallographic orientations and consequent ferroelectric domain structures are investigated. As the crystallographic orientation changes from (001)pc via (110)pc to (111)pc, the ferroelastic domains in epitaxial BiFeO3 thin films become mono-variant and the spontaneous polarization levels increase to 110 μC/cm2. Consequently, the photocurrent density at 0 V vs. Ag/AgCl increases approximately 5.3-fold and the onset potential decreases by 0.180 V in the downward polarization state. It is further demonstrated that ferroelectric switching in the (111)pc BiFeO3 thin-film photoanode leads to an approximate change of 8,000% in the photocurrent density and a 0.330 V shift in the onset potential. This study strongly suggests that domain-engineered ferroelectric materials can be used as effective charge separation and collection layers for efficient solar water-splitting photoanodes.

Strain-Gradient Effect in Gas Sensors Based on Three-Dimensional Hollow Molybdenum Disulfide Nanoflakes

A novel three-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) structure consisting of seamless hollow nanoflakes on two-dimensional basal layers was synthesized by a one-step chemical vapor deposition method. Here, we demonstrate that the as-grown nanoflakes are formed on an organic promoter layer which served as a positive template and are swollen at the grain boundaries by the bubbling effect. TMD nanosheets with hollow nanoflakes are successfully applied as chemical sensors, and it was found that their gas adsorption property is strongly related to the internal strain gradient resulting from the variation in the lattice parameter. This result is consistent with the theoretical prediction in previous studies. Our chemical vapor deposition-based approach is an efficient way to generate TMD-based nanostructures over a large surface area for various practical applications such as chemical sensors.

Flexible Piezoelectric Generators by Using the Bending Motion Method of Direct-Grown-PZT Nanoparticles on Carbon Nanotubes

Recently, composite-type nanogenerators (NGs) formed from piezoelectric nanostructures and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs), have become one of the excellent candidates for future energy harvesting because of their ability to apply the excellent electrical and mechanical properties of CNTs. However, the synthesis of NG devices with a high proportion of piezoelectric materials and a low polymer content, such as of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), continues to be problematic. In this work, high-piezoelectric-material-content flexible films produced from Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT)-atomically-interconnected CNTs and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) are presented. Various physical and chemical characterization techniques are employed to examine the morphology and structure of the materials. The direct growth of the piezoelectric material on the CNTs, by stirring the PZT and CNT mixed solution, results in various positive effects, such as a high-quality dispersion in the polymer matrix and addition of flexoelectricity to piezoelectricity, resulting in the enhancement of the output voltage by an external mechanical force. The NGs repeatedly generate an output voltage of 0.15 V. These results present a significant step toward the application of NGs using piezoelectric nanocomposite materials.

Synthesis and Characterization of Piezoelectric Nanocapsules for Drug Delivery

Hollow nanocapsules have the potential to be used as drug delivery carriers because of the high drug loading capacity of their inner void space. In this paper, we report a preliminary study of the synthesis of piezoelectric PZT nanocapsules (PZT-NCs). The hollow PZT-NCs were successfully fabricated by a nanoimprint method with a sol-gel process. A porous alumina membrane (PAM) was used as a mold. The PZT-NCs have a polycrystalline structure and consist of crystallites with a size in the range of 2–5 nm.