The era of the Internet of Things brings new requirement of energy to sustainably power billions of devices/sensors pervasively. Recent advances in nanogenerator research demonstrated a great potential in harvesting mechanical energy from ambient environments and human body, leading to pervasive and sustainable power sources that operate over a broad range of conditions. During the past decade, the nanogenerator technologies by using piezoelectric, triboelectric, and other effects has experienced a rapid development. It has led to the implementation of various types of micro/nano-systems for portable, wearable and implantable electronics, remote and mobile sensors, nano-robotics, intelligent MEMS/NEMS, and blue energy technology. The coupling between piezoelectric polarization and semiconductor properties is a fundamental phenomenon where electrons and photons are manipulated by strain, i.e. piezotronics and piezo-phototronics, which brings unprecedented opportunities for tuning the semiconductor performance. The progressing of piezotronics and piezo-phototronics leads to compelling advancements from basic studies of piezoelectricity and semiconductor properties to the applications of smart electronics and optoelectronics, including sensing, human-machine interfacing, robotics, catalysis, energy and healthcare.
This symposium aims to promote fundamental understanding and technology advancements of nanogenerator and piezotronics. Abstracts on theoretical and experimental study of triboelectric, piezoelectric, and ferroelectric materials and devices; investigation and applications of nanogenerators for self-powered devices; fundamental coupling between piezoelectric/ferroelectric polarization and semiconductor properties in 1D/2D nanomaterials and their applications (e.g., electronics, optoelectronics, photovoltaics, thermoelectrics, photoelectrochemistry) are particularly welcomed.