A continuum model of piezoelectric potential generated in a bent ZnO nanorod

Abstract

A continuum model of piezoelectric potential generated in a bent ZnO nanorod cantilever is presented by means of the first piezoelectric effect approximation. The analytical solution of the model shows that the piezoelectric potential in the nanorod is proportional to the lateral force but is independent along the longitudinal direction. The electric potential in the tensile area and that in the compressive area are antisymmetric in the cross section of the nanorod, which makes the nanorod a ‘parallel plate capacitor’ for piezoelectric nanodevices, such as a nanogenerator. The magnitude of piezoelectric potential for a ZnO nanorod of 50 nm diameter and 600 nm length bent by a 80 nN lateral force is about 0.27 V, which is in good agreement with the finite element method calculation.