Photomechaelectric nanogenerator

Summary

Metal and inorganic or organic conjugate semiconductors can convert solar energy into electricity through the well-known external photoelectric effect and internal photovoltaic effect, respectively. The photoelectric effect cannot be detected in electron-insulated polymers due to a lack of free electrons or the redistribution of holes and electrons under illumination. Here, we report a subtle method to efficiently convert UV-light energy into electricity for electron-insulated co-polymers via a photomechaelectric (PME) effect, in which a PME effect means that photo induces isomerization of photosensitive segments and further results in generating dynamic dipoles and equal amounts, but opposite signs, of induced charges at electrodes. To this aim, functional azobenzene (AZO) and imidazole ionic liquid (ILO) oligomers have been used as photoisomer and dipole units, respectively. The produced electron-insulated AZO-co-ILO co-polymer-based nanogenerator can directly output an alternating current (up to 5.8 V and 247 μA) under UV illumination, implying extensive potential applications in self-powered electronic devices.