Strong piezoelectricity in bioinspired peptide nanotubes

ACS Nano. 2010 Feb 23;4(2):610-4. doi: 10.1021/nn901327v.

Abstract

We show anomalously strong shear piezoelectric activity in self-assembled diphenylalanine peptide nanotubes (PNTs), indicating electric polarization directed along the tube axis. Comparison with well-known piezoelectric LiNbO(3) and lateral signal calibration yields sufficiently high effective piezoelectric coefficient values of at least 60 pm/V (shear response for tubes of approximately 200 nm in diameter). PNTs demonstrate linear deformation without irreversible degradation in a broad range of driving voltages. The results open up a wide avenue for developing new generations of "green" piezoelectric materials and piezonanodevices based on bioactive tubular nanostructures potentially compatible with human tissue.

MeSH terms

  • Biomimetic Materials / chemistry*
  • Dipeptides
  • Electricity*
  • Nanotubes / chemistry*
  • Phenylalanine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Phenylalanine / chemistry
  • Rotation
  • Stress, Mechanical*

Substances

  • Dipeptides
  • phenylalanylphenylalanine
  • Phenylalanine