Piezoelectric energy conversion assemblies

A method of making a piezoelectric energy conversion assembly comprising:

• (i) depositing a piezoelectric nanowire on a first electrically conductive element;
• (ii) depositing an electrically conductive nanofilament on a second electrically conductive element;
• and
• (iii) positioning the piezoelectric nanowire and the electrically conductive nanofilament so that piezoelectric nanowire is operable to contact the electrically conductive nanofilament to allow a charge to flow from the first electrically conductive element, through the piezoelectric nanowire and the electrically conductive nanofilament, to the second electrically conductive element.

A method of using a piezoelectric energy conversion assembly comprising:

• (i) generating a voltage across a first electrically conductive element and a second electrically conductive element, wherein,
• (a) the first electrically conductive element is electrically connected to a piezoelectric nanowire,
• (b) the second electrically conductive element is electrically connected to a electrically conductive nanofilament, and
• (c) the piezoelectric nanowire and the electrically conductive nanofilament are operable to contact one another;
• and
• (ii) flowing a charge from the first electrically conductive element, through the piezoelectric nanowire and the electrically conductive nanofilament, to the second electrically conductive element.

A device comprising a plurality of piezoelectric energy conversion assemblies, wherein at least one piezoelectric energy conversion assembly of the plurality of piezoelectric energy conversion assemblies is a piezoelectric energy conversion assembly comprising:

• (i) a piezoelectric nanowire;
• (ii) a first electrically conductive element electrically connected to the piezoelectric nanowire;
• (iii) an electrically conductive nanofilament;
• and
• (iv) a second electrically conductive element electrically connected to the electrically conductive nanofilament, wherein the piezoelectric nanowire and electrically conductive nanofilament are operable to contact one another such that a charge can flow from the first electrically conductive element, through the piezoelectric nanowire and the electrically conductive nanofilament, to the second electrically conductive element.

A method of making a device comprising a plurality of piezoelectric energy conversion assemblies, wherein the method of making the device comprises:

• (i) depositing a piezoelectric nanowire on a first electrically conductive element;
• (ii) depositing an electrically conductive nanofilament on a second electrically conductive element;
• and
• (iii) positioning the piezoelectric nanowire and the electrically conductive nanofilament so that piezoelectric nanowire is operable to contact the electrically conductive nanofilament to allow a charge to flow from the first electrically conductive element, through the piezoelectric nanowire and the electrically conductive nanofilament, to the second electrically conductive element.