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About

Luana Persano is a leading figure in the field of advanced functional materials, with a primary focus on piezoelectric polymers, energy harvesting, and soft robotics. Her most impactful contribution is the development of high-performance piezoelectric devices based on aligned arrays of nanofibers of poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-trifluoroethylene), a seminal work that has garnered over 1,200 citations and set a benchmark for flexible energy conversion technologies. She further advanced the field by unveiling the cooperative electromechanical mechanisms that enhance the piezoelectric response in aligned polymer nanowires, demonstrating how mutual contact between nanostructures can amplify performance. Persano has also pioneered the integration of electrostatic mechanophores into piezopolymer nanowires, enabling tunable light emission through mechanical bending—a breakthrough with implications for smart sensors and optoelectronics. Her recent review on advanced materials for energy harvesting and soft robotics, published in 2024, has already attracted significant attention, reflecting her ongoing influence. Through her innovative work, Persano has established herself as a key architect of next-generation, flexible, and responsive materials systems.