Fabrication of polypeptide-based piezoelectric composite polymer film

A new class of molecular composite piezoelectric material was produced by simultaneous poling and curing of a homogeneous solution comprising poly(γ-benzyl α,l-glutamate) and methylmethacrylate via corona discharge methods. This film exhibited high piezoelectricity (d33 = 23 pC N−1), and its mechanical characteristics (modulus = 450 MPa) were similar to those of low molecular weight poly(methylmethacrylate). As it is produced via solution-based fabrication processes, the composite film is conducive to miniaturization for small sensors with integrated electronics, and could also potentially be used in piezoelectric coating applications.