Oxygen-defect bismuth oxychloride nanosheets for ultrasonic cavitation effect enhanced sonodynamic and second near-infrared photo-induced therapy of breast cancer.

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) relies heavily on the presence of oxygen to induce cell death. Its effectiveness is thus diminished in the hypoxic regions of tumor tissue. To address this issue, the exploration of ultrasound-based synergistic treatment modalities has become a significant research focus. Here, we report an ultrasonic cavitation effect enhanced sonodynamic and 1208 nm photo-induced cancer treatment strategy based on thermoelectric/piezoelectric oxygen-defect bismuth oxychloride nanosheets (BNs) to realize the high-performance eradication of tumors. Upon ultrasonic irradiation, the local high temperature and high pressure generated by the ultrasonic cavitation effect combined with the thermoelectric and piezoelectric effects of BNs create a built-in electric field. This facilitates the separation of carriers, increasing their mobility and extending their lifetimes, thereby greatly improving the effectiveness of SDT and NIR-Ⅱ phototherapy on hypoxia. The Tween-20 modified BNs (TBNs) demonstrate ∼88.6 % elimination rate against deep-seated tumor cells under hypoxic conditions. In vivo experiments confirm the excellent antitumor efficacy of TBNs, achieving complete tumor elimination within 10 days with no recurrences. Furthermore, due to the high X-ray attenuation of Bi and excellent NIR-Ⅱ absorption, TBNs enable precise cancer diagnosis through photoacoustic (PA) imaging and computed tomography (CT).

Spontaneous piezoeletric effect as evidence of ferroelastoelectricity in guanidine zinc sulfate crystal.

The crystal of [C(NH2)3]2Zn(SO4)2 guanidine zinc sulfate was grown and its structure, dilatometric, dielectric, elastic and piezoelectric properties were studied in a broad temperature range, covering the phase transition point. The crystal undergoes a continuous phase transition at 178 K from the room temperature tetragonal phase with a space group I 4 ¯ 2 d to the tetragonal low temperature phase with a space group I 4 ¯ . The structural X-ray studies allowed proposing molecular mechanism associated with the rearrangement in the configuration of N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds and reorientation of guanidine cations in the structure, leading to a change in the symmetry of the low temperature phase. Results of thermal expansion and dielectric studies are typical of a structural nonferroelectric continuous transition. Also measurement of piezoelectric and elastic properties revealed small anomalies at 178 K. Below the transition temperature, a new piezoelectric component, that is a ferroelastoelectric macroscopic order parameter, was found.

Effect of internal and external chaotic stimuli on synchronization of piezoelectric auditory neurons in coupled time-delay systems.

Hearing impairment is considered to be related to the damage of hair cells or synaptic terminals, which will cause varying degrees of hearing loss. Numerous studies have shown that cochlear implants can balance this damage. The human ear receives external acoustic signals mostly under complex conditions, and its biophysical mechanisms have important significance for reference in the design of cochlear implants. However, the relevant biophysical mechanisms have not yet been fully determined. Using the characteristics of special acoustoelectric conversion in piezoelectric ceramics, this paper integrates them into the traditional FitzHugh-Nagumo neuron circuit and proposes a comprehensive model with coupled auditory neurons. The model comprehensively considers the effects of synaptic coupling between neurons, information transmission delay, external noise stimulation, and internal chaotic current stimulation on the synchronization of membrane potential signals of two auditory neurons. The experimental results show that coupling strength, delay size, noise intensity, and chaotic current intensity all have a certain regulatory effect on synchronization stability. In particular, when auditory neurons are in a chaotic state, their impact on synchronization stability is sensitive. Numerical results provide a reference for exploring the biophysical mechanisms of auditory neurons. At the same time, we are committed to providing assistance in using sensors to monitor signals and repair hearing impairments.

Piezoelectric biomaterials with embedded ionic liquids for improved orthopedic interfaces through osseointegration and antibacterial dual characteristics.

Orthopedic implant failures, primarily attributed to aseptic loosening and implant site infections, pose significant challenges to patient recovery and lead to revision surgeries. Combining piezoelectric materials with ionic liquids as interfaces for orthopedic implants presents an innovative approach to addressing both issues simultaneously. In this study, films of poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) incorporated with 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate ([Emim][HSO4]) ionic liquid were developed. These films exhibited strong antibacterial properties, effectively reducing biofilm formation, thereby addressing implant-related infections. Furthermore, stem cell-based differentiation assays exposed the potential of the composite materials to induce osteogenesis. Interestingly, our findings also revealed the upregulation of calcium channel expression as a result of electromechanical stimulation, pointing to a mechanistic basis for the observed biological effects. This work highlights the potential of piezoelectric materials with ionic liquids to improve the longevity and biocompatibility of orthopedic implants. Offering dual-functionality for infection prevention and bone integration, these advancements hold significant potential for advancing orthopedic implant technologies and improving patient outcomes.

Bone lid technique versus standard technique for treatment of mandibular lesions.

BACKGROUND: Jaw lesions are frequent in the oral and maxillofacial areas. Different methods for enucleating jaw lesions in the oral and maxillofacial sites have been proposed, including the bone lid technique. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and radiographic results of the bone lid technique employing a piezoelectric surgery to the traditional technique in individuals with mandibular lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 24 patients with mandibular lesions. They were randomly allocated into two groups (n = 12 for each group). Group I: the mandibular lesion was excised with bone lid technique using a piezoelectric device, followed by the fixation of the bony window after its repositioning. Group II: the lesion was excised with the traditional method using rotatory burs. Pain, soft tissue healing, bone exposure, bone lid integration, and the volume of the residual bone defect were all assessed clinically and radiographically after one week, one month, and six months. RESULTS: All patients in both groups showed adequate soft tissue healing except for one case in group I experienced wound dehiscence and bone lid exposure. The bone lid group reported significantly less pain than the usual approach at the 3rd and 7th days. After six months, the volume of bone defect filling was considerably higher in the bone lid group compared to the conventional group. CONCLUSION: The bone lid technique was an effective procedure in the management of mandibular lesions compared to the standard method. Besides, this technique provides better bone healing and reduces bone loss. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This clinical trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov on 14/8/2023 and had registration number NCT05987930.

Ultrasonic-Driven Degradation of Organic Pollutants Using Piezoelectric Catalysts WS2/Bi2WO6 Heterojunction Composites.

Water pollution has been made worse by the widespread use of organic dyes and their discharge, which has coincided with the industry's rapid development. Piezoelectric catalysis, as an effective wastewater purification method with promising applications, can enhance the catalyst activity by collecting tiny vibrations in nature and is not limited by sunlight. In this work, we designed and synthesized intriguing WS2/Bi2WO6 heterojunction nanocomposites, investigated their shape, structure, and piezoelectric characteristics using a range of characterization techniques, and used ultrasound to accelerate the organic dye Rhodamine B (RhB) degradation in wastewater. In comparison to the pristine monomaterials, the results demonstrated that the heterojunction composites demonstrated excellent degradation and stability of RhB under ultrasonic circumstances. The existence of heterojunctions and the internal piezoelectric field created by ultrasonic driving work in concert to boost catalytic performance, and the organic dye's rate of degradation is further accelerated by the carriers that are mutually transferred between the composites.

On-demand fabrication of piezoelectric sensors for in-space structural health monitoring.

Inflatable structures, promising for future deep space exploration missions, are vulnerable to damage from micrometeoroid and orbital debris impacts. Polyvinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene (PVDF-trFE) is a flexible, biocompatible, and chemical-resistant material capable of detecting impact forces due to its piezoelectric properties. This study used a state-of-the-art material extrusion system that has been validated for in-space manufacturing, to facilitate fast-prototyping of consistent and uniform PVDF-trFE films. By systematically investigating ink synthesis, printer settings, and post-processing conditions, this research established a comprehensive understanding of the process-structure-property relationship of printed PVDF-trFE. Consequently, this study consistently achieved the printing of PVDF-trFE films with a thickness of around 40 µm, accompanied by an impressive piezoelectric coefficient of up to 25 pC N-1. Additionally, an all-printed dynamic force sensor, featuring a sensitivity of 1.18 V N-1, was produced by mix printing commercial electrically-conductive silver inks with the customized PVDF-trFE inks. This pioneering on-demand fabrication technique for PVDF-trFE films empowers future astronauts to design and manufacture piezoelectric sensors while in space, thereby significantly enhancing the affordability and sustainability of deep space exploration missions.

Piezoelectric Surgery, Er:YAG Laser Surgery and Nd:YAG Laser Photobiomodulation: A Combined Approach to Treat Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws (MRONJ).

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a drug complication that can occur in patients taking antiresorptive or antiangiogenic drugs. Although it is a well-documented disease, there is no widely accepted treatment. However, several therapeutic approaches have been proposed. The surgical approach in many advanced cases appears inevitable; however, the results are not yet defined and predictable. This study aimed to propose a combined surgical approach with a piezoelectric device and laser (Er:YAG for bone ablation and Nd:YAG laser for photobiomodulation) in a young patient with breast cancer and bone metastasis under denosumab treatment, affected by spontaneous stage 3 MRONJ with maxillary sinus involvement. The patient under study reported no post-operative discomfort, with painkiller intake limited to the day after surgery. Total mucosal healing was observed without recurrences for more than 4 years after surgery. According to the results of our preliminary study, a combined surgical approach using a piezoelectric device and laser therapy is effective in managing patients affected by MRONJ, leveraging the clinical and biological advantages of these different techniques.

Triphasic Hydroxysilylation of Alkenes by Mechanically Piezoelectric Catalysis.

The 1,2-hydroxysilylation of alkenes is crucial for synthesizing organosilicon compounds which are key intermediates in material science, pharmaceuticals, and organic synthesis. The development of strategies employing hydrogen atom transfer pathways is currently hindered by the existence of various competing reactions. Herein, we reported a novel mechanochemical strategy for the triphasic 1,2-hydroxysilylation of alkenes through a single-electron-transfer pathway. Our approach not only circumvents competitive reactions to enable the first-ever 1,2-hydroxysilylation of unactivated alkenes but also pioneers the research in mechanic force-induced triphasic reactions under ambient conditions. This gentle method offers excellent compatibility with various functional groups, operates under simple and solvent-free conditions, ensures rapid reaction time. Preliminary mechanistic investigations suggest that silylboronate can be transformed to a silicon radical by highly polarized Li2TiO3 particles and oxygen under ball-milling condition.

Branch spiral beam harvester for uni-directional ultra-low frequency excitations.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in piezoelectric energy harvesting systems, particularly for their potential to recharge or replace batteries in energy-efficient electronic devices and wireless sensor networks. Nonetheless, the conventional linear piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEH) face limitations in ultra-low frequency vibrations (1-10 Hz) due to their narrow operating bandwidth and higher resonance frequencies. To address this, researchers explored compact shaped geometries, with spiral PEH being one such design to lower resonance frequencies by reducing structural stiffness. While trying to achieve this lower resonance frequency, spiral designs overlooked that they were spreading the stress across the structure. This was a significant drawback because it reduced the structure's ability to stress the piezoelectric transducer. The issue remains unaddressed, limiting the power generation of spiral beam harvesters. Furthermore, spiral structures also fail to broaden the operating bandwidth, posing additional constraints on their effectiveness. This study introduces a novel solution - the "branch spiral beam harvester," combining the benefits of both spiral and branch beam designs. The integration of the branch beam concept into the spiral structure aimed to broaden the effective frequency range and establish a concentrated stress area for the placement of the piezoelectric transducer. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was employed to assess operating bandwidth and stress distribution, while experimental studies evaluated voltage and power generation. Once the workability was confirmed, a statistical optimisation method was introduced to tailor the harvester for specific frequencies in the ultra-low frequency range. Results indicated that the branch spiral beam harvester exhibits a wider operating bandwidth with six natural frequencies in the ultra-low frequency range. It harnessed significantly higher output voltages and power compared to conventional linear PEH. This innovation presents a promising advancement in piezoelectric energy harvesting, offering improved performance without the need for proof masses or additional accessories.

Inhibiting Shuttle Effect and Dendrite Growth in Sodium-Sulfur Batteries Enabled by Applying External Acoustic Field.

The room-temperature sodium-sulfur (RT Na-S) battery is a promising alternative to traditional lithium-ion batteries owing to its abundant material availability and high specific energy density. However, the sodium polysulfide shuttle effect and dendritic growth pose significant challenges to their practical applications. In this study, we apply diverse disciplinary backgrounds to introduce a novel method to stimulate polarized BaTiO3 (BTO) nanoparticles on the separator. This approach generates more charges due to the piezoelectric effect under stronger driving forces produced by applying a controllable acoustic field at the outer edge of the cell. The acoustically stimulated BTO attracts more polysulfides, thus reducing the shuttling effect from the cathode to the anode and ultimately enhancing the battery performance. Meanwhile, the acoustic waves create additional streaming flows, improving the uniformity of the sodium ion dispersion, enhancing the sodium ion transport and reducing the possibility of sodium dendrite development. We believe that this work offers a new strategy for the development of high-performance Na-S batteries.

Comprehensive investigation of structural, magnetic, electronic, optical, mechanical, and piezoelectric properties of ATiO3 (A= Mn, Fe, Ni) compounds for sustainable energy materials.

This work employs Density Functional Theory (DFT) to investigate the characteristics of ATiO3 (A= Mn, Fe, Ni) by utilizing GGA and DFT+U formalisms. Our results reveal that the investigated compounds exhibit a ground-state magnetic arrangement in the G-type antiferromagnetic configuration. Substitution of the A-site atoms along the row leads to a decrease in volume due to poor electronic shielding effects with transition metals. All systems investigated are stable under dynamical conditions, with no imaginary phonon. From the formation energy calculations, NiTiO3 was identified as the most formable and stable compound. DFT+U was most effective for FeTiO3, resulting in significantly wider bandgaps compared to the GGA-level bandgaps. Optical properties such as static dielectric constants, refractive index, and reflectivity were overestimated by the GGA when compared to DFT+U results. The absorption edges of FeTiO3, MnTiO3, and NiTiO3 were analyzed, with DFT+U showing delayed onset compared to GGA. FeTiO3 was found to be the most effective absorber within the visible spectrum according to DFT+U, while NiTiO3 was predicted to be the best absorber by GGA. Each compound's mechanical stability was tested and verified based on the Born criteria, with FeTiO3 exhibiting the highest elastic moduli under DFT+U, while NiTiO3 had the highest shear and Young's modulus according to GGA. Among the studied compounds, FeTiO3 is the best-performing and most efficient piezoelectric compound with e_16 = 5.418 C m^(-2) under DFT+U. Overall, the studied compounds demonstrate promising capabilities for a wide range of applications in the field of photovoltaic devices, and piezoelectric materials, due to their remarkable optical, and piezoelectric properties.

Exploring the application of piezoelectric ceramics in bone regeneration.

Piezoelectric ceramics are piezoelectric materials with polycrystalline structure and have been widely used in many fields such as medical imaging and sound sensors. As knowledge about this kind of material develops, researchers find piezoelectric ceramics possess favorable piezoelectricity, biocompatibility, mechanical properties, porous structure and antibacterial effect and endeavor to apply piezoelectric ceramics to the field of bone tissue engineering. However, clinically no piezoelectric ceramics have been exercised so far. Therefore, in this paper we present a comprehensive review of the research and development of various piezoelectric ceramics including barium titanate, potassium sodium niobate and zinc oxide ceramics and aims to explore the application of piezoelectric ceramics in bone regeneration by providing a detailed overview of the current knowledge and research of piezoelectric ceramics in bone tissue regeneration.

Precursor-Derived Sensing Interdigitated Electrode Microstructures Based on Platinum and Nano Porous Carbon.

Interdigital electrodes were prepared using nanoimprint lithography and piezoelectric inkjet printing. These processes are simpler and more cost-effective than the industrially used electron beam lithography because of their purely mechanical process step. For the investigation of material dependence, platinum as well as carbon electrodes were fabricated. Afterwards electrodes with various line widths and spacings were tested for the application as a chemiresistive sensor for ferrocenyl-methanol and the influence of the gap-width and conductor cross-section on the sensitivity was investigated. The general suitability of the systems for the production of such structures could be confirmed. Structures with a limit of detection (LOD) down to 1.2 µM and 35.9 µM could be produced for carbon and platinum, respectively, as well as a response time of 3.6 s was achieved.

Piezophototronic Effect Enhanced Flexible Tunneling Devices by Separating the Photosensitive Layer and the Piezoelectric Modulation Layer.

The piezo-phototronic effect uses the piezoelectric potential/piezoelectric charge generated by the piezoelectric semiconductor material to regulate the energy band structure and photogenerated carrier behavior at the interface/junction, thereby modulating the device's performance. The positive/negative piezoelectric charges generated at the interface of piezoelectric semiconductors can reduce the electron/hole barriers and thus enhance the transport of photogenerated carriers. However, electron/hole potential wells are formed when the electron/hole potential barrier caused by positive/negative piezoelectric charges is lowered too much, hindering the transport of photogenerated carriers. It is difficult to balance the relationship between potential barriers and potential wells while introducing the piezo-phototronic effect. In this work, a physical mechanism by separating the photosensitive layer and the piezoelectric modulation layer is proposed to deal with the above-mentioned issue in flexible tunneling devices. The piezoelectric modulation layer is solely used to adjust the electron/hole barriers, while the photosensitive layer is used to absorb photons and generate photogenerated carriers. This avoids the limitation on the transport of photogenerated carriers caused by potential wells in the piezoelectric semiconductor, thereby significantly increasing the adjustable range of the barriers. Experimental results show that the photoresponsivity of the flexible p-Si/Al2O3/n-ZnO tunneling device is optimized from 5.5 A/W to 35.8 A/W by the piezo-phototronic effect after separating the piezoelectric charges and photogenerated carriers. In addition, finite element analysis is used to simulate the influence of piezoelectric charges on the energy bands to corroborate the accuracy of the theoretical mechanism and experimental results. This work not only presents an optoelectronic device with excellent performance but also offers novel guidance for improving the performance of optoelectronic devices using the piezo-phototronic effect.

Surgical Navigation and CAD-CAM-Designed PEEK Prosthesis for the Surgical Treatment of Facial Intraosseous Vascular Anomalies.

Background: Intraosseous vascular anomalies in the facial skeleton present significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to complex anatomy. These anomalies represent about 0.5-1% of bony neoplastic and tumor-like lesions, usually presenting as a firm, painless mass. Most described intraosseous vascular malformations are venous malformations (VMs) and, more rarely, arteriovenous malformations. Objectives: The objectives of this work are to show our experience, protocol and the applications of computer planning, virtual surgery, CAD-CAM design, surgical navigation, and computer-assisted navigated piezoelectric surgery in the treatment of facial intraosseous vascular anomalies and to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages. Methods: Three females and one male with periorbital intraosseous vascular anomalies were treated using en-block resection and immediate reconstruction with a custom-made PEEK prosthesis. One lesion was in the supraorbital rim and orbital roof, one in the frontal bone and orbital roof, and two in the zygomatic region. We accomplished the resection and reconstruction of the lesion using virtual planning, CAD-CAM design, surgical navigation and piezoelectric device navigation. Results: There were no complications related to the surgery assisted with navigation. With an accuracy of less than 1 mm, the procedure may be carried out in accordance with the surgical plan. The surgeon's degree of uncertainty during deep osteotomies and in locations with low visibility was decreased by the use of the navigated piezoelectric device. Conclusions: Resection and reconstruction of facial intraosseous vascular anomalies benefit from this new surgical strategy using CAD-CAM technologies, computer-assisted navigated piezoelectric surgery, and surgical navigation.

High Frequency Ultrasound Transducer Based on Sm-Doped Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.28PbTiO3 Ceramic for Intravascular Ultrasound Imaging.

Sm-doped Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.28PbTiO3 (PMN-0.28PT) ceramic has been reported to exhibit very large piezoelectric response (d33~1300 pC/N) that can be comparable with PMN-0.30PT single crystal. Based on the Sm-doped PMN-0.28PT ceramics, a high frequency ultrasound transducer with the center frequency above 30 MHz has been designed and fabricated for intravascular ultrasound imaging, and the performance of the transducer was investigated via ultrasound pulse-echo tests. Further, for a porcine vessel wall, the 2D and 3D ultrasound images were constructed using signal acquisition and processing from the fabricated high-frequency transducer. The obtained details of the vessel wall by the IVUS transducer indicate that Sm-doped PMN-0.28PT ceramic is a promising candidate for high frequency transducers.

Air-coupled ultrasonic transducer based on lead-free piezoceramics prepared by digital light processing 3D printing.

Piezoelectric composite ceramics, as the key components of ultrasonic transducers, have their vibration modes, electromechanical coupling performance, and acoustic impedance closely related to the volume fraction of ceramics. This study employed a novel digital light processing 3D printing technique (DLP) to fabricate 0.5Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3-0.5(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3 (BCZT)-based 1-3 piezoelectric composite ceramics with different ceramic volume fractions (15.6 %, 23.5 %, 36.2 %, 48.4 %, 59.5 %). It demonstrates the suitability of the DLP process for the fabrication of 1-3 piezoelectric composite ceramics and investigates the influence of ceramic volume fraction on the performance of these ceramics. When the piezoelectric ceramic volume fraction was 59.5 %, the piezoelectric coefficient effective d33 of the 1-3 piezoelectric composite device reached 315 pC/N, demonstrating excellent piezoelectric performance. The acoustic impedance Z was 16.3 MRayl, and the thickness electromechanical coupling coefficient kt was 0.55, indicating high energy conversion efficiency. The air-coupled ultrasonic transducer prepared from the 1-3 piezoelectric composite ceramics with a ceramic volume fraction of 59.5 % exhibited a round-trip insertion loss (IL) of -70.32 dB and a -6 dB bandwidth (BW-6dB) of 7.42 %. This work provides a more convenient and new method for the preparation of lead-free piezoelectric ceramic ultrasonic transducers.

Bandgap Calculation and Experimental Analysis of Piezoelectric Phononic Crystals Based on Partial Differential Equations.

Focusing on the bending wave characteristic of plate-shell structures, this paper derives the complex band curve of piezoelectric phononic crystal based on the equilibrium differential equation in the plane stress state using COMSOL PDE 6.2. To ascertain the computational model's accuracy, the computed complex band curve is then cross-validated against real band curves obtained through coupling simulations. Utilizing this model, this paper investigates the impact of structural and electrical parameters on the bandgap range and the attenuation coefficient in the bandgap. Results indicate that the larger surface areas of the piezoelectric sheet correspond to lower center bands in the bandgap, while increased thickness widens the attenuation coefficient range with increased peak values. Furthermore, the influence of inductance on the bandgap conforms to the variation law of the electrical LC resonance frequency, and increased resistance widens the attenuation coefficient range albeit with decreased peak values. The incorporation of negative capacitance significantly expands the low-frequency bandgap range. Visualized through vibration transfer simulations, the vibration-damping ability of the piezoelectric phononic crystal is demonstrated. Experimentally, this paper finds that two propagation modes of bending waves (symmetric and anti-symmetric) result in variable voltage amplitudes, and the average vibration of the system decreases by 4-5 dB within the range of 1710-1990 Hz. The comparison between experimental and model-generated data confirms the accuracy of the attenuation coefficient calculation model. This convergence between experimental and computational results emphasizes the validity and usefulness of the proposed model, and this paper provides theoretical support for the application of piezoelectric phononic crystals in the field of plate-shell vibration reduction.

Non-Centrosymmetric Single Crystalline Biomolecular Nano-Arrays for Responsive Electronics.

Herein, a novel strategy is reported for synthesizing libraries of single crystalline amino acid (AA) nanocrystals with control over size, anisotropy, and polymorphism by leveraging dip-pen nanolithography (DPN) and recrystallization via solvent vapor annealing. The crystals are prepared by first depositing nanoreactors consisting of a solvent with AAs, followed by water vapor-induced recrystallization. This leads to isotropic structures that are non-centrosymmetric with strong piezoelectric (g33 coefficients >1000 mVm N-1), ferroelectric, and non-linear optical properties. However, recrystallizing arrays of isotropic DL-alanine nanodot features with a binary solvent (water and ethanol) leads to arrays of 1D piezoelectric nanorods with their long axis coincident with the polar axis. Moreover, positioning nanoreactors containing AAs (the nanodot features) between micro electrodes leads to capillary formation, making the reactors anisotropic and facilitating piezoelectric nanorod formation between the electrodes. This offers a facile route to device fabrication. These as-fabricated devices respond to ultrasonic stimulation in the form of a piezoelectric response. The technique described herein is significant as it provides a rapid way of investigating non-centrosymmetric nanoscale biocrystals, potentially pivotal for fabricating a new class of stimuli-responsive devices such as sensors, energy harvesters, and stimulators.