Researchers identify stability range for piezoelectric glycine using nanoconfinement

Have you ever wondered if the simple building blocks of life could one day power our wearable electronics? Glycine, the simplest amino acid found in our bodies, has a superpower in its β-phase form: it is highly piezoelectric, meaning it can convert mechanical pressure into electricity. However, this phase of glycine is unstable, usually transforming into a non-piezoelectric α-phase before we can ever use it in a device. We wanted to see if we could trap this elusive phase in tiny spaces to keep it stable.