Boosting the Piezoelectric Sensitivity of Amino Acid Crystals by Mechanical Annealing for the Engineering of Fully Degradable Force Sensors.

Abstract in brief

• The study demonstrates that mechanical annealing can significantly enhance the piezoelectric properties of amino acid crystals, up to 12 times compared to their original form, making them more effective for use in biodegradable force sensors.
• Mechanical annealing also creates smoother and flatter crystal surfaces, which improves contact with electrodes and boosts the device's voltage output, leading to better sensor performance.
• The developed sensors are fully biodegradable, can operate for about 4 weeks in vivo monitoring functions like muscle movement and lung activity, and then safely degrade without toxicity or inflammation, highlighting their potential for medical applications.