Liquid-Solid Triboelectric Probes for Real-Time Monitoring of Sucrose Fluid Status

Triboelectric probes have rapidly developed as an efficient tool for understanding contact electrification at liquid-solid interfaces. However, the liquid-solid electrification process is susceptible to interference from chemical components in mixed solutions, severely limiting the potential applications of triboelectric probes in various liquid environments. This study for the first time reports a triboelectric probe capable of sucrose solution concentration sensing, finding that the dissolution of sucrose destroys the hydrogen bond network between water molecules and forms sucrose-water hydrogen bonds, which alters the fluid mechanics characteristics of the solution and enhances its conductivity, thereby reducing the droplet size and causing an ion charge shielding effect that significantly affects the electron transfer in liquid-solid contact electrification. Owing to the feedback of the triboelectric probe on the sucrose concentration gradient-type sensing electrical signals, efficient sensing of sucrose solution was achieved (sensitivity of -0.0038%(-1), response time of 90 ms). The triboelectric probe is also used as a wireless smart terminal to enable real-time detection of sucrose solution. This work contributes to the understanding of the structure-function relationship between micro hydrogen bonding and macro performance, and provides a promising solution for building sustainable intelligent sensors.

Automated summary

This study presents a triboelectric probe capable of sensing sucrose solution concentration, which utilizes the dissolution of sucrose to alter the fluid mechanics characteristics of the solution and enhance its conductivity. The probe achieves efficient sensing of sucrose solution by providing feedback on the sucrose concentration gradient-type sensing electrical signals. This work contributes to the understanding of micro hydrogen bonding and macro performance relationship and provides a promising solution for building sustainable intelligent sensors.