title: Biotemplated synthesis of PZT nanowires.
abstract: Piezoelectric nanowires are an important class of smart materials for next-generation applications including energy harvesting, robotic actuation, and bioMEMS. Lead zirconate titanate (PZT), in particular, has attracted significant attention, owing to its superior electromechanical conversion performance. Yet, the ability to synthesize crystalline PZT nanowires with well-controlled properties remains a challenge. Applications of common nanosynthesis methods to PZT are hampered by issues such as slow kinetics, lack of suitable catalysts, and harsh reaction conditions. Here we report a versatile biomimetic method, in which biotemplates are used to define PZT nanostructures, allowing for rational control over composition and crystallinity. Specifically, stoichiometric PZT nanowires were synthesized using both polysaccharide (alginate) and bacteriophage templates. The wires possessed measured piezoelectric constants of up to 132 pm/V after poling, among the highest reported for PZT nanomaterials. Further, integrated devices can generate up to 0.820 μW/cm(2) of power. These results suggest that biotemplated piezoelectric nanowires are attractive candidates for stimuli-responsive nanosensors, adaptive nanoactuators, and nanoscale energy harvesters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University , Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States.
authors.forename: Kellye
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cung
authors.forename: Booyeon J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Thanh D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Yao-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Shiyou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Rajesh R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Naik
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Poirier
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Prashant K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Purohit
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: McAlpine
mesh_terms: D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000737:chemistry; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D007854:Lead / Q000737:chemistry*; D055617:Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D053770:Nanowires / Q000737:chemistry*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D015040:Zirconium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides; C065536:lead titanate zirconate; D007854:Lead; D015040:Zirconium; D014025:Titanium