IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i22p16040-d1282043.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Electrospun Microstructured Biopolymer Fibers Containing the Self-Assembled Boc–Phe–Ile Dipeptide: Dielectric and Energy Harvesting Properties

Author

Listed:
  • Adelino Handa

    (Centre of Physics of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), Laboratory for Materials and Emergent Technologies (LAPMET), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal)

  • Rosa M. F. Baptista

    (Centre of Physics of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), Laboratory for Materials and Emergent Technologies (LAPMET), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal)

  • Daniela Santos

    (Centre of Physics of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), Laboratory for Materials and Emergent Technologies (LAPMET), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal)

  • Bruna Silva

    (Centre of Physics of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), Laboratory for Materials and Emergent Technologies (LAPMET), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal)

  • Ana Rita O. Rodrigues

    (Centre of Physics of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), Laboratory for Materials and Emergent Technologies (LAPMET), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal)

  • João Oliveira

    (Centre of Physics of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), Laboratory for Materials and Emergent Technologies (LAPMET), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal)

  • Bernardo Almeida

    (Centre of Physics of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), Laboratory for Materials and Emergent Technologies (LAPMET), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal)

  • Etelvina de Matos Gomes

    (Centre of Physics of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), Laboratory for Materials and Emergent Technologies (LAPMET), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal)

  • Michael Belsley

    (Centre of Physics of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), Laboratory for Materials and Emergent Technologies (LAPMET), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal)

Abstract

Hybrid biomaterials were engineered using the electrospinning technique, incorporating the dipeptide Boc–L-phenylalanyl–L-isoleucine into microfibers composed of biocompatible polymers. The examination by scanning electron microscopy affirmed the morphology of the microfibers, exhibiting diameters ranging between 0.9 and 1.8 µm. The dipeptide self-assembles into spheres with a hydrodynamic size between 0.18 and 1.26 µm. The dielectric properties of these microfibers were characterized through impedance spectroscopy where variations in both temperature and frequency were systematically studied. The investigation revealed a noteworthy rise in the dielectric constant and AC electric conductivity with increasing temperature, attributable to augmented charge mobility within the material. The successful integration of the dipeptide was substantiated through the observation of Maxwell–Wagner interfacial polarization, affirming the uniform dispersion within the microfibers. In-depth insights into electric permittivity and activation energies were garnered using the Havriliak–Negami model and the AC conductivity behavior. Very importantly, these engineered fibers exhibited pronounced pyroelectric and piezoelectric responses, with Boc–Phe–Ile@PLLA microfibers standing out with the highest piezoelectric coefficient, calculated to be 56 pC/N. These discoveries help us understand how dipeptide nanostructures embedded into electrospun nano/microfibers can greatly affect their pyroelectric and piezoelectric properties. They also point out that polymer fibers could be used as highly efficient piezoelectric energy harvesters, with promising applications in portable and wearable devices.

Suggested Citation

  • Adelino Handa & Rosa M. F. Baptista & Daniela Santos & Bruna Silva & Ana Rita O. Rodrigues & João Oliveira & Bernardo Almeida & Etelvina de Matos Gomes & Michael Belsley, 2023. "Electrospun Microstructured Biopolymer Fibers Containing the Self-Assembled Boc–Phe–Ile Dipeptide: Dielectric and Energy Harvesting Properties," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-19, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:22:p:16040-:d:1282043
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/22/16040/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/22/16040/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:22:p:16040-:d:1282043. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.