Hair-Like Flexible Airflow Sensor for Large-Area Airflow Sensing

Recently, flexible airflow sensors have attracted significant attention due to their impressive characteristics and capabilities for airflow sensing. However, the development of high-performance flexible airflow sensors capable of sensing airflow over large areas remains a challenge. In this work, it is proposed that a hair-like flexible airflow sensor, based on laser direct writing and electrostatic flocking, offers an efficient technology for airflow sensing. The airflow sensor exhibits high sensitivity (5.25% s m^-1), fast response time (39.83 ms), a wide detection range (3.48 - 18.36 m s^-1), minimal disturbance to the airflow field, simplified fabrication, and cost efficiency. The airflow sensor, with excellent conformal monitoring capabilities, is capable to detect airflow on different surfaces. The sensor's excellent flexibility and efficient fabrication process enable it to be easily integrated into arrays and deployed on large-area surfaces to provide information, including airflow velocity, direction, and point of incidence. The hair-like airflow sensor has significant potential for applications in environmental monitoring, intelligent robots, wearable electronics, and tactile sensing.