Dual-Scale Polarization Engineering of d-Phenylalanine-Based Assemblies for High-Performance Nanogenerators.

Huang, Juexin; Xia, Jingyi; Baddi, Sravan; Zhao, Yu; Feng, Chuan-Liang · ACS Nano · 2025

basic_science · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

Piezoelectric biomaterials hold immense potential for next-generation microdevices, yet their piezoelectric performance often trails behind that of conventional synthetic counterparts. This study demonstrates a dual-scale polarization strategy to significantly enhance the piezoelectric response of d-phenylalanine derivatives (d-PheAD). Molecular-level polarization is amplified through ionic interactions with l-glutamic acid-modified Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> magnetic nanoparticles, while macroscopic alignment of d-PheAD nanoarrays under magnetic fields optimizes collective dipole orientation. This synergistic approach elevates the effective piezoelectric coefficient (<i>d</i><sub>eff</sub>) from 10.4 to 121.9 pm V<sup>-1</sup>, outperforming most biomaterial-based piezoelectric systems and many inorganic piezoelectric systems. Integrating these engineered assemblies into a triboelectric-enhanced piezoelectric nanogenerator yields unprecedented electrical outputs (2853 nA, 51.9 V), a 25-fold improvement over baseline configurations. The device achieves real-time detection of trace HCl gas at low concentrations, demonstrating superior sensitivity compared to commercial electrochemical sensors. By bridging molecular design and macroscopic engineering, this work establishes a scalable paradigm for deploying eco-friendly piezoelectric biomaterials in high-performance microelectronics and environmental monitoring technologies.