Piezoelectric Nanogenerator Driven by Light-Powered Molecular Motors

Nanogenerator-based piezoelectric materials have been the focus of extensive studies to foster the next generation of autonomous microdevices capable of harvesting energy from their environment with a high rate of efficiency. We developed a piezoelectric nanogenerator capable of converting light energy into electrical current by using a combination of an enhanced piezoelectric nanocomposite (P(VDF-TrFE)-BaTiO₃) and a photosensitive molecular motor (pseudo-stilbene derivative) that act as an alternative to external mechanical stress. This approach was based on the ability of these molecular motors to harvest light and convert it into constant mechanical stress via light-induced geometrical changes that provoke a mechanical deformation of the host piezo-nanocomposite, resulting in the appearance of an electrical current.