Epitaxial growth of vertically aligned piezoelectric diphenylalanine peptide microrods with uniform polarization. (October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nguyen, Vu; Jenkins, Kory; Yang, Rusen
• Is Part Of: Nano energy. Volume 17(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 323
• Page End: 329
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Subjects: Piezoelectricity -- Peptide -- Polarization -- Diphenylalanine -- Microrods -- Nanochannels; Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanostructured materials -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Nanoscience; Nanostructured materials; Nanotechnology; Power resources -- Technological innovations; Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2015.08.020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2211-2855

Abstract

Abstract: Energy harvesting with piezoelectric nanomaterials spurred the development of self-powered nanosystems, and piezoelectric biomaterials are expected to play an important role in the biomedical field. Bio-inspired piezoelectric diphenylalanine (FF) peptide microstructures were fabricated on various substrates through a novel epitaxial growth approach. The low-temperature process produced vertically aligned FF peptide microrods with hexagonally arranged nanochannels and uniform polarization. Direct measurement of the piezoelectricity was achieved for the first time from a solid FF peptide single crystal and yielded an effective piezoelectric coefficient d 33 at 9.9 pm/V. The dense and aligned FF peptide microrods are advantageous for energy and sensing applications. Graphical abstract: Highlights: The fabrication of highly textured dipeptide seed layer was investigated. Vertically aligned dipeptide microrod was achieved through epitaxial growth. Piezoelectricity of highly crystallized dipeptide microrod was evaluated. In-situ electric field during growth was found to generate microrods with uniform polarization.