APPARATUS FOR GENERATING ELECTRICAL ENERGY AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME

• US 20100253184A1
• Filed: 08/05/2009
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: CHOI, Jaeyoung, CHOI, Dukhyun
• Granted Patent: US 8,227,957 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/339
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/01 Manufacture or treatment
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/07 Forming of piezoelectric or electrostrictive parts or bodies on an electrical element or another base
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/30 with mechanical input and electrical output, e.g. functioning as generators or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/42 Piezoelectric device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4902 Electromagnet, transformer or inductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49147 Assembling terminal to base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49155 Manufacturing circuit on or in base

Abstract

An apparatus for generating electrical energy may include; a first electrode, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, a nanowire which includes a piezoelectric material and is disposed on the first electrode, an active layer disposed on the first electrode, a conductive layer disposed on the active layer, and an insulating film disposed between the conductive layer and the nanowire, wherein the nanowire and the active layer are electrically connected to each other. A method for manufacturing an apparatus for generating electrical energy may include; disposing a nanowire including a piezoelectric material on a first electrode, disposing an active layer, which is electrically connected to the nanowire, on the first electrode, disposing an insulating film on the nanowire, disposing a conductive layer on the active layer, and disposing a second electrode in proximity to the nanowire and substantially opposite to the first electrode.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating electrical energy, comprising:

a first electrode;

a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode;

a nanowire which includes a piezoelectric material and is disposed on the first electrode;

an active layer disposed on the first electrode;

a conductive layer disposed on the active layer; and

an insulating film disposed between the conductive layer and the nanowire,

wherein the nanowire and the active layer are electrically connected to each other.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first electrode, the second electrode, and the conductive layer include a transparent material.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a first substrate connected to the first electrode; and

a second substrate connected to the second electrode,

wherein at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate include a transparent material.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode are flexible electrodes which are deformed by an applied stress, and

wherein the nanowire is deformed as a distance between the first electrode and the second electrode decreases, so as to contact the nanowires with the second electrode.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein the second electrode includes an uneven portion having a concave portion, and

wherein the nanowire is disposed in proximity to the concave portion of the uneven portion of the second electrode.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

a first substrate connected to the first electrode; and

a second substrate connected to the second electrode,

wherein at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate include a flexible material which is deformed by an applied stress.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the second electrode includes an uneven portion having a concave portion, and

wherein the nanowire is disposed in proximity to the concave portion of the uneven portion of the second electrode and contacts the second electrode due to resonation of the nanowire in response to an applied signal.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first storage device electrically connected between the first electrode and the conductive layer; and

a second storage device electrically connected between the first electrode and the second electrode.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the active layer includes one of an organic material, an inorganic material, and an organic-inorganic composite.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the insulating film includes a piezoelectric material.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the insulating film includes at least one selected from the group consisting of lead-zirconate-titanate, barium titanate and a combination thereof.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode, the second electrode, and the conductive layer include at least one selected from the group consisting of metal, indium tin oxide, carbon nanotubes, graphene, conductive polymer, nanofibers, nanocomposites and a combination thereof.

13. A method for manufacturing an apparatus for generating electrical energy, the method comprising:

disposing a nanowire including a piezoelectric material on a first electrode;

disposing an active layer, which is electrically connected to the nanowire, on the first electrode;

disposing an insulating film on the nanowire;

disposing a conductive layer on the active layer; and

disposing a second electrode in proximity to the nanowire and substantially opposite to the first electrode.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

electrically connecting a first storage device between the first electrode and the conductive layer; and

electrically connecting a second storage device between the first electrode and the second electrode.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein disposing the second electrode in proximity to the nanowires further comprises:

forming a metal layer on a template substrate;

anodizing the metal layer to form an anodized film;

removing the anodizing film to form the second electrode on the template substrate;

joining the second electrode to a transport substrate; and

separating the second electrode and the transport substrate from the template substrate.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the first electrode, the second electrode, and the conductive layer include a transparent material.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the active layer includes one of an organic material, an inorganic material, and an organic-inorganic composite.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein the insulating film includes a piezoelectric material.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the insulating film includes at least one selected from the group consisting of lead-zirconate-titanate, barium titanate and a combination thereof.

20. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first electrode, the second electrode, and the conductive layer include at least one selected from the group consisting of a metal, indium tin oxide, carbon nanotubes, graphene, conductive polymer, nanofibers, nanocomposites and a combination thereof.