Piezoelectric properties of diphenylalanine microtubes prepared from the solution

• FF peptides microtubes are grown from the solution in different configurations.
• Entire matrix of piezoelectric coefficients is determined.
• High anisotropy of piezoelectric effect in self-assembled FF peptides is shown.
• Temperature dependence of piezoelectric coefficients is determined for the first time.

Biomimetic self-assembling peptides form a variety of structures that can be used for the fabrication of functional devices. We are witnessing the emergence of a new era of bionanotechnology that opens up new possibilities for novel electronic, photonic and energy functionalities based on supramolecular green and lightweight structures. In this work, we study the emergent piezoelectric properties of linear dipeptide diphenylalanine (FF) that can self-assemble in the shape of microtubes. The matrix of piezoelectric coefficients is derived for the first time based on the hexagonal symmetry of FF structures and different configurations of the tubes are tested by the advanced Piezoresponse Force Microscopy (PFM). Strong piezoelectric anisotropy of piezoelectric coefficients is explained by the self-assembled structure of FF peptides. Possible applications of piezoelectric microtubes in functional devices are discussed.

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