journal article·2026-02Open access

Peptide Sequence Programmed Piezoelectric Response by Supramolecular Self‐Assembly

Xuejiao Yang, Shuaijie Liu, Honglei Lu, Yuehui Wang, Hongyue Zhang, Wei Ji, Huaimin Wang

Advanced Science· Volume 13· Issue 12

Abstract

Abstract Piezoelectricity has attracted significant attention for its ability to convert mechanical energy into electricity, especially when biological molecules are incorporated into materials. However, natural biomaterials are limited by low piezoelectric coefficients, necessitating synthetic alternatives. Short peptides offer advantages such as ease of synthesis, biocompatibility, and tunability, making them promising candidates. In this study, hydrophobic tripeptides are used to fabricate stable piezoelectric crystals. When phenylalanine occupies the central position, the tripeptides self‐assembled into uniform, thermally stable crystals. Piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) reveals a high effective piezoelectric coefficient of 24.0 pC N −1 , attributed to strong asymmetric molecular packing, confirmed by microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) and density functional theory (DFT) analysis. Nanogenerators based on these crystals achieve an open‐circuit voltage of 2.57 V under 50 N, the highest among short peptides in aqueous environments. These findings advance peptide crystal engineering and highlight their potential for high‐performance piezoelectric devices.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Supramolecular Self-Assembly in Materials · Calcium Carbonate Crystallization and Inhibition · Polydiacetylene-based materials and applications

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine 18 Shilongshan Road Hangzhou Zhejiang 310024 China

Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology Ministry of Education College of Bioengineering Chongqing University Chongqing 400044 China

Department of Chemistry School of Science Westlake University Institute of Natural Sciences Westlake Institute for Advanced Study No. 600 Dunyu Road Hangzhou Zhejiang 310024 China

Funding

National Key Research and Development Program of China · Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities · National Natural Science Foundation of China

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