Himadri Pandey
ABSTRACT: The need for providing power to micro-systems has been there ever since their advent in technology. This paper presents a novel theoretical approach for generating alternating current for microsystems. The approach is based on combining the well known conventional piezoelectric thin film micro-cantilevers combined with optical behavior of azo-benzene. Azo-benzene molecule undergoes cis- to transtransformation when exposed to certain wavelength of optical spectra. The effect is utilized to show the actuation for a hypothetical set of dimensions assumed for PZT coated micro- and nano-cantilevers, thereby generating an A.C pulse. The effect of various parameters on design of above system is also explored. Finally, the optimum design parameters are suggested for practical fabrication of such a generator.
KEYWORDS: Micro/Nano Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS/NEMS), Plumbum Zirconate Titanate (PZT) coated micro-cantilevers, Optical Switching, Micro/Nano generators.