In this study, the modification of the electrical properties of ZnO nanorods (NRs) was investigated by incorporating potassium (K) during a hydrothermal process. Structural investigations reveal that the K incorporation improved the crystalline quality of the ZnO NRs with a negligible change in the morphology. The electrical properties of the ZnO NR/p-Si heterojunction indicated a gradual elimination of defect-induced free charge carriers by the incorporation of K element. A piezoelectric nanogenerator was fabricated using the K incorporated ZnO NRs, which showed enhanced piezoelectric output potential due to the elimination of the screening effect by free charge carriers in the NRs.

Keywords: ZnO nanorod, Hydrothermal, Doping, Piezoelectric, Nanogenerator