Special Section On Piezotronics: Preface to the Special Section on Piezotronics (Adv. Mater. 34/2012)

This special section – guest-edited by Prof. Z. L. Wang – reports on progress in piezotronics and piezo-phototronics. The new science introduced by piezotronic and piezophototronic effects has the potential to change the fundamental design and working mechanism of electronic and photonic devices, which is likely to inspire further fundamental research and practical applications. The frontispiece shows the elastic strain in zincblende quantum dot nanowire heterostructures. Analyzing and understanding the elastic and piezoelectric properties of epitaxially grown nanowire heterostructures is particularly important for applications in nanowire electronics, optoelectronics, and biochemical sensing, as reviewed by H. Q. Xu on page 4630.