title: Self-assembly of diphenylalanine peptide with controlled polarization for power generation.
abstract: Peptides have attracted considerable attention due to their biocompatibility, functional molecular recognition and unique biological and electronic properties. The strong piezoelectricity in diphenylalanine peptide expands its technological potential as a smart material. However, its random and unswitchable polarization has been the roadblock to fulfilling its potential and hence the demonstration of a piezoelectric device remains lacking. Here we show the control of polarization with an electric field applied during the peptide self-assembly process. Uniform polarization is obtained in two opposite directions with an effective piezoelectric constant d33reaching 17.9 pm V-1. We demonstrate the power generation with a peptide-based power generator that produces an open-circuit voltage of 1.4 V and a power density of 3.3 nW cm-2. Devices enabled by peptides with controlled piezoelectricity provide a renewable and biocompatible energy source for biomedical applications and open up a portal to the next generation of multi-functional electronics compatible with human tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
authors.forename: Vu
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
authors.forename: Ren
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
authors.forename: Kory
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
authors.forename: Rusen
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4019-4642
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D004151:Dipeptides; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004736:Energy-Generating Resources; D055617:Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D011487:Protein Conformation
chemical_list: D004151:Dipeptides; C026650:phenylalanylphenylalanine; D010649:Phenylalanine