Bioinspired Ultrasensitive and Flexible Airflow Sensor based on Short Carbon Fiber Network

Electronic skin or wearable electronics have attached great attention due to their huge potential applications, and flexible airflow sensor, as an important part, reveals extensive applications. However, finding an efficient, low-cost, and room-temperature operation condition method to prepare flexible airflow sensors with high sensing performance still remains a challenge. Herein, inspired by filiform hairs of insects, a highly sensitive, stable, and flexible airflow sensor based on short carbon fiber network (SCFN) structure via electrostatic flocking is developed. The fabricated SCFN is endowed with an ultralow detection limit (0.053 m s(-1)), wide detection range (0.053-2.66 m s(-1)), multiangle response (0 degrees-90 degrees) with a fast response (1.7 s) and recovery time (3.4 s), together with excellent stability. Besides, its sensing mechanism is elaborated and demonstrated from microscale. Furthermore, it is applied to detect the velocity and direction of airflow through a 3D layout decoration of sensors and integrated into monitoring the leak location in a sealed reaction device. The combination of mild high-throughput preparation and high sensing performance of SCFN airflow sensor shows significant potentials in electronic skin or wearable electronics filed.