Piezoelectric energy harvesting and self-powered pressure sensing with hen egg white lysozyme

Lysozyme is a well-recognized antimicrobial, and antifungal globular protein generally found in different mammalian secretions such as tears and saliva. It is commercially extracted from avian sources such as hen egg white and can be crystallized in different forms. In its crystalline state, it was found to be piezo, pyro and ferroelectric. Here, we have designed a piezoelectric energy harvesting device using engineered tetragonal aggregate film of lysozyme. Prepared films exhibited a longitudinal piezoelectricity of approximately ~3 pC/N. Subsequent output voltage/current of the device have been recorded. Thus, its promising mechanical energy harvesting performance and considering the non-toxicity and biocompatibility make it suitable over inorganic/synthetic piezoelectric materials as self-powered pressure sensor, implantable power source in body, and motion sensing applications.