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 wellknown 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≈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.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 610-614 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | ACS Nano |
Volume | 4 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 23 Feb 2010 |
Keywords
- MEMS
- Nanotubes
- Peptides
- Piezoelectricity
- Piezoresponse force microscopy