Size effect in piezoelectric semiconductor nanostructures

A gradient theory is applied to the mechanical constitutive equations for piezoelectric semiconductor nanostructures. This is achieved by considering the strain gradients in the constitutive equation with high-order stresses and electric displacements in advanced continuum model. The C¹ continuous interpolations of displacements or a mixed formulation is required in the finite element method (FEM) due to the presence of the second-order derivative on the elastic displacements. A mixed FEM is then developed from the principle of virtual work. Numerical examples clearly show the significant effect of flexoelectricity on the induced electric potential and electric current in the piezoelectric semiconductor nanostructures.