title: Bio-assembled nanocomposites in conch shells exhibit giant electret hysteresis.
abstract: Giant electric polarization (2000-4000 μC cm(-2)) is observed in natural conch shells. The nanolaminas and biopolymer layers of their unique hierarchical microstructures exhibit ferroelectret behavior and account for the observed polarization. Such huge polarization leads to extremely high pyroelectric coefficients, 2-3 orders of magnitude larger than those of conventional ferroelectric materials. The possibility of tailoring the giant polarization for various applications is considered.
authors.affiliation: Nanofab, Imaging & Characterization Core Lab, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Yingbang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: QingXiao
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hongtao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Zhihong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhengkui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Pei-Yuan
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Xi Xiang
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D060105:Animal Shells / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D049851:Gastropoda / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D055672:Static Electricity; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances