TITLE:
Description of New Bioelectromechanical Properties in Alginate: An Insight with a Computer Simulation
AUTHORS:
A. Heredia, J. J. Gervacio-Arciniega, V. Duarte-Alaniz, O. Amelines-Sarria, A. Rodríguez-Galván, J. M. Siqueiros
KEYWORDS:
Alginate, Piezoresponse Force Microscopy, Ferroelectricity, Macromolecular Self-Assembly
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Materials Physics and Chemistry,
Vol.7 No.8,
August
17,
2017
ABSTRACT: Alginate
biopolymer from Tropicalgin C302245 was studied by means of piezoresponse
force microscopy imaging, scanning electron microscopy, powder X-rays, infrared
spectroscopy and computer simulations. Local piezoresponse force microscopy
images show possible ferroelectric domains detected in the out of plane mode and these results are confirmed
by the second harmonic generation analysis. Alginate powder is composed by diatom
frustules containing a cristobalite-like compound, amorphous silica and chitin.
The experimental results are explained by MM+
and PM3 computer simulations that
establish that the self-assembly of the alginate molecules enhance the
polarization increasing the molecular collective dipole moment. Alginate
molecular properties might open interesting possibilities for organic technological
applications.