Revolutionary Organic Crystals for Eco-Friendly Energy-Harvesting Developed by University of Limerick

Researchers at the University of Limerick (UL) developed a new method to grow organic crystals for energy-harvesting. This eco-friendly method provides a low-cost alternative to traditional piezoelectric materials, often found in ceramics and polymers.

The research team from the Actuate Lab and Bernal Institute generates energy by squeezing amino acid molecules, which are essential components of proteins in the human body. If successful, this method could eliminate harmful materials, like lead, from electronics.

PhD student Krishna Hari said, “Our low-cost, low-temperature growth technique opens the door to biomolecular piezoelectrics as eco-friendly alternatives to ceramics.” The researchers used computer models to predict how much electricity biological materials generate when squeezed, making them suitable for sensors in electronics and medical devices.

Their findings, published in the journal Physical Review Letters, allow the team to shape their crystals using silicon molds into specific designs, such as devices for medical use or phone microphones.

This research project, called Pb-FREE, is funded by a European Research Council starting grant awarded to associate professor Sarah Guerin. Ms. Guerin, recognized as Research Ireland’s Early Career Researcher of the Year in 2023, is optimistic about the implications for solid-state chemistry. She noted, “We hope it will change the field, as many scientists strive to grow biomolecular crystals that behave chaotically.”

There are stringent EU regulations concerning lead usage, yet piezoelectrics remain one of the last technologies that may still contain lead. Approximately 4,000 tons of lead-based electronic waste arise from these sensors each year, and this research may help reduce that waste significantly.