Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
1172404 Analytica Chimica Acta 2006 14 Pages PDF
Abstract

Flexoelectricity provides a reciprocal relationship between electricity and mechanics in membranes, i.e., between membrane curvature and polarization. Experimental evidence of biomembrane flexoelectricity (including direct and converse flexoelectric effect) is reviewed. Biological implications of flexoelectricity in membrane transport, membrane contact, mechanosensitivity, electromotility and hearing are underlined. Flexoelectricity enables membrane structures to function like soft micro- and nano-machines, sensors and actuators, thus providing important input to molecular electronics applications.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Chemistry Analytical Chemistry
Authors
,