Self Powered Triboelectric Micro Liquid/Gas Flow Sensor for Microfluidics.
Liquid and gas flow sensors are important components of the micro total analysis systems (mTAS) for modern analytical sciences. In this paper, we proposed a self powered triboelectric microfluidic sensor (TMS) by utilizing the signals produced from the droplet/bubble via the capillary and the triboelectrification effects on the liquid/solid interface for real time liquid and gas flow detection. By alternating capillary with different diameters, the sensor's detecting range and sensitivity can be adjusted. Both the relationship between the droplet/bubble and capillary size, and the output signal of the sensor are systematically studied. By demonstrating the monitoring of the transfusion process for a patient and the gas flow produced from an injector, it shows that TMS has a great potential in building a self powered micro total analysis system.
ACS nano