New 'Electric Plastic' Material Could Revolutionize Implants and Wearable Tech

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new "electric plastic" by combining peptides—short chains of amino acids—with polymer plastic segments. This material can store energy, record information, and interact with biological tissues, paving the way for advanced wearables, neural interfaces, and medical implants.

The material, created by Samuel Stupp and his team, improves upon polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), a common polymer. The new blend forms flexible ribbons that self-assemble when water is added. It requires 100 times less voltage to switch polarization than other ferroelectric materials, making it ideal for low-power applications. It also maintains its properties at higher temperatures—110°C, about 40°C higher than other PVDF materials.

The peptide-polymer hybrid can store energy or information by switching the polarity of each ribbon. It can also interface with neurons and other cells, potentially recording brain, heart, or organ signals or stimulating them electrically. Low-power techniques like ultrasound could charge the material, making it useful for treating conditions like chronic paralysis.

PVDF is biocompatible, making the material a strong candidate for soft, wirelessly controlled implants. Scaling up production remains a challenge, but the potential applications are vast. Stupp suggests this approach could lead to other materials without fluorine, expanding the possibilities even further.

Ferroelectric materials are substances that can spontaneously form an electric dipole, meaning they have a natural separation of positive and negative charges. This property allows them to store energy and switch their polarity when an electric field is applied.