Smart liquid-piston based triboelectric nanogenerator sensor for real-time monitoring of fluid status

It is highly desirable to measure fluid pressure and its pulsations through portable, handheld instruments and test kits, which allow a rapid, low-cost, and reliable quantification about liquid status, especially for cheaper, faster, and smarter point-of-care testing (POCT). Here, we proposed a portable self-powered smart fluid pressure sensor based on a liquid piston triboelectric nanogenerator (LP-TENG). By analyzing the characteristic signals due to the triboelectrification effect, electrostatic induction, and theory of the ideal gas equation , the developed sensor is able to determine the fluid’s pressure and flowing status quantitatively (e.g., moving direction, flow rate, blockages, pipe bursts, leakage, etc.). Here, a simply fabricated device has the highest accuracy of 0.4 kPa with a pressure range from 0 kPa to 30 kPa, which is superior to most commercial sensors. Furthermore, the electric performance can reach a resolution ratio of 10 mmHg, which is adequate to accurately identify the blood pressure (BP) level. Consequently, the self-powered LP-TENG is capable of real-time monitoring the fluid status, which can fit the need for diagnosing and detecting the BP level as a reliable POCT device in healthcare products , as well as other broad potential applications in manufacturing, transportation, and civil service.