Science

Ultrathin diamond membranes generate electricity when bent, study finds

Researchers discovered that flexible polycrystalline diamond membranes produce a piezoelectric response, challenging a century-old assumption.

Updated Aug 31, 2026 · 12:19 UTC1 reports

The short version

Researchers at the University of Hong Kong have discovered that ultrathin, flexible polycrystalline diamond membranes can generate electricity when mechanically deformed.
The finding challenges a long-standing scientific assumption from the early 1900s that diamond is a non-piezoelectric material.
The electrical response is believed to be caused by charge polarization along the internal boundaries of the tiny crystals within the diamond membrane.

A research team led by professors Zhiqin Chu and Yuan Lin at the University of Hong Kong used an edge exfoliation method to produce flexible, ultrathin polycrystalline diamond membranes.[ScienceDaily]
When the thin diamond membranes were flexed, researchers observed stable and repeatable voltage signals, indicating a piezoelectric response.[ScienceDaily]
The team conducted mechanical cycling experiments to confirm the electrical output was genuine and to rule out triboelectric effects and external interference.[ScienceDaily]
First-principles calculations suggest that bending the membrane causes electrical charge polarization to build up around asymmetrical grain boundaries between the tiny crystals.[ScienceDaily]
The researchers suggest potential future applications for the technology include self-powered medical implants, sensors, and micro energy systems.[ScienceDaily]

Whether these piezoelectric diamond membranes can be successfully scaled and integrated into commercial devices or medical implants remains to be seen.[ScienceDaily]