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(GIST OF SCIENCE REPORTER) PIEZORESPONSIVE NANOMATERIALS

(JANUARY-2025)

PIEZORESPONSIVE NANOMATERIALS

Indian researchers have developed peptide (a short chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds) based adjustable piezoresponsive nanomaterials that can help in energy harvesting and biodevice applications.

About Piezoresponsive nanomaterials

The nanomaterials displaying the Piezoresistive effect are termed as Piezoresponsive nanomaterials.
Piezoelectric materials have the unique ability to generate an electric charge when subjected to mechanical stress. This characteristic makes them ideal for applications in sensors, actuators, and energy-harvesting devices, where mechanical energy is converted into electrical signals or vice versa.
Combining supramolecular self-assembly with piezoelectricity offers a powerful approach in designing next-generation nanomaterials with dynamic and customizable properties.

This innovation not only enhances the functionality of smart materials but also paves the way for breakthroughs in technology and material science, driving progress in various fields from healthcare to electronics.

Key highlights:

A group of Indian researchers have developed different nanostructures by controlling the self-assembly pathway of the peptides.

This control over the self-assembly process enables the adjustment of material properties in response to mechanical stimuli, effectively enhancing their piezoresponsive characteristics that can be used in energy harvesting, biodevices, soft robotics, flexible electronic and sensing devices.

About Findings: Researchers have revealed a complex interplay between kinetic and thermodynamic states in the supramolecular self-assembly of peptides by manipulating multiple parameters including temperature and solvent compositions. This complexity plays a crucial role in determining the final structure and properties of the assembled nanomaterials.
Utility of Research: Combining supramolecular self-assembly with piezoelectricity offers a powerful approach in designing next-generation nanomaterials with dynamic and customizable properties. This innovation not only enhances the functionality of smart materials but also paves the way for breakthroughs in technology and material science, driving progress in various fields from healthcare to electronics.