Piezotronic and piezo-phototronic logic computations using Au decorated ZnO microwires

Using the coupling effect of localized Schottky barriers formed by Au nanoparticles decorated ZnO microwires (MWs) and piezoelectric potential created upon straining, the highly enhanced piezotronic and piezo-phototronic effect have been applied for logic computations, i.e. designing strain-gated transistors (SGTs) and light-strain-gated transistors (LSGTs) to process mechanical and optical stimuli on the devices into electronic controlling signals. Linking four (L) SGTs following the connection rules, two series logic devices, such as inverter, NAND, AND, NOR, OR and XOR gates with good rectifying behaviors have been fabricated. Moreover, a 2:1 multiplexer can be designed for two independent input square wave signals with different frequencies. The light-strain-gated piezo-phototronic logic device based on Au NPs decorated ZnO MWs may find applications in active flexible electronics, optical micro/nanoelectromechanical systems, tunable bio-optoelectronic probes, and adaptive optical computation. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.