Biodegradable ferroelectric molecular crystal with large piezoelectric response. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38547269/)

These scientists wanted to create a special material that could be used inside the human body for different purposes like sensing things, delivering medicine, helping tissues grow back, and fighting germs and tumors. They needed this material to be flexible, safe for the body, and able to break down over time. The scientists found a type of material called HFPD that had very strong piezoelectric properties, which means it can generate electricity when squeezed or pressed. This material was also safe for cells in the body and could break down naturally. They mixed HFPD with another material called polyvinyl alcohol to make a flexible film that could generate electricity when bent or stretched. This discovery shows that certain types of crystals can have useful properties for making devices that can be put inside the body temporarily.

Zhang HY., Tang YY., Gu ZX., Wang P., Chen XG., Lv HP., Li PF., Jiang Q., Gu N., Ren S., Xiong RG. Biodegradable ferroelectric molecular crystal with large piezoelectric response. Science. 2024 Mar 29;383(6690):1492-1498. doi: 10.1126/science.adj1946. Epub 2024 Mar 28.