title: Taxel-addressable matrix of vertical-nanowire piezotronic transistors for active and adaptive tactile imaging.
abstract: Designing, fabricating, and integrating arrays of nanodevices into a functional system are the key to transferring nanoscale science into applicable nanotechnology. We report large-array three-dimensional (3D) circuitry integration of piezotronic transistors based on vertical zinc oxide nanowires as an active taxel-addressable pressure/force sensor matrix for tactile imaging. Using the piezoelectric polarization charges created at a metal-semiconductor interface under strain to gate/modulate the transport process of local charge carriers, we designed independently addressable two-terminal transistor arrays, which convert mechanical stimuli applied to the devices into local electronic controlling signals. The device matrix can achieve shape-adaptive high-resolution tactile imaging and self-powered, multidimensional active sensing. The 3D piezotronic transistor array may have applications in human-electronics interfacing, smart skin, and micro- and nanoelectromechanical systems.
authors.affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
authors.forename: Wenzhuo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xiaonan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Zhong Lin
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D053770:Nanowires; D046709:Pattern Recognition, Physiological; D011312:Pressure; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D055698:Touch Perception; D014173:Transistors, Electronic