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Nanostructured Silicon Used for Flexible and Mobile Electricity Generation
Author(s) -
Sun Baoquan,
Shao Mingwang,
Lee Shuitong
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201601012
Subject(s) - materials science , nanotechnology , silicon , electricity , electricity generation , engineering physics , optoelectronics , electrical engineering , engineering , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics
The use of nanostructured silicon for the generation of electricity in flexible and mobile devices is reviewed. This field has attracted widespread interest in recent years due to the emergence of plastic electronics. Such developments are likely to alter the nature of power sources in the near future. For example, flexible photovoltaic cells can supply electricity to rugged and collapsible electronics, biomedical devices, and conformable solar panels that are integrated with the curved surfaces of vehicles or buildings. Here, the unique optical and electrical properties of nanostructured silicon are examined, with regard to how they can be exploited in flexible photovoltaics, thermoelectric generators, and piezoelectric devices, which serve as power generators. Particular emphasis is placed on organic–silicon heterojunction photovoltaic devices, silicon‐nanowire‐based thermoelectric generators, and core–shell silicon/silicon oxide nanowire‐based piezoelectric devices, because they are flexible, lightweight, and portable.