Abstract
This work reports the generation of piezoelectric potential in uniaxially strained zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires with Ohmic-, symmetric diode-, and rectifying Schottky-like silver-ZnO (Ag-ZnO) contacts. By controlling the synthesis process of the ZnO nanowires, one can control the transport properties of metal-ZnO interfaces. The measurements show the influence of the transport properties of the Ag-ZnO contact on the piezoelectric response of ZnO nanowires. Although the rectifying Schottky contact results in more effective energy harvesting, this is no necessity for operation of a ZnO nanogenerator. Uniaxially strained ZnO nanowires with Ohmic-like Ag-ZnO contacts can also generate measurable piezoelectric signals.