Abstract
Developing biocompatible nano-materials with the ability to detect ultra-low mechanical pressure is promising for biomedical sensors. This paper reports the detection of pressure as low as 1 Pa in the environmental pressure of 1 atm (10−3% pressure change) by nanocrystals of amino acids glycine and alanine through the piezoelectric effect. Piezoelectricity enables detection of pressure by a change of dielectric polarization when the material is subjected to external pressure. This work exploits the non-centro-symmetric structure of some amino acids and their weak hydrogen bonds to develop sensitive mechanical pressure sensors. The β-glycine and L-alanine nanocrystals were grown from aqueous solution inside porous alumina substrate. The nanocrystals exhibit pronounced preferred crystallographic orientation. The sensitive piezoelectric response to ultra-low mechanical pressure is discussed based on atomic and crystal symmetry considerations.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 110468 |
Journal | Materials Science and Engineering C |
Volume | 108 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2020 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Amino acid
- Biocompatible sensors
- Crystal growth
- Mechanical pressure sensors
- Nanocrystals
- Piezoelectricity