Self-Powered Multimodal Temperature and Force Sensor Based-On a Liquid Droplet

Abstract

Herein we report a self-powered multimodal temperature and force sensor based on the reverse electrowetting effect and the thermogalvanic effect in a liquid droplet. The deformation of the droplet and the temperature difference across the droplet can induce an alternating pulse voltage and a direct voltage, respectively, which is easy to separate/analyze and can be utilized to sense the external force and temperature simultaneously. In addition, an integral display system that can derive information from external temperature/force concurrently is constructed. Combined with advantages of excellent sensing properties and a simple structure, the droplet sensor has promising applications in a wide range of intelligent electronics.

Keywords: liquid droplet; reverse electrowetting; sensors; temperature-force sensor; thermogalvanic.