Mechanical–electric dual characteristics solid–liquid interfacing sensor for accurate liquid identification

Lingjie Xie, Bohan Lu, Zhengdi Sima, Yina Liu (), Haifeng Ji, Zhenqiu Gao, Peng Jiang, Harm Zalinge, Ivona Z. Mitrovic, Xuhui Sun and Zhen Wen ()
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Lingjie Xie: Soochow University
Bohan Lu: Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
Zhengdi Sima: Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
Yina Liu: Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
Haifeng Ji: Soochow University
Zhenqiu Gao: Soochow University
Peng Jiang: Soochow University
Harm Zalinge: University of Liverpool
Ivona Z. Mitrovic: University of Liverpool
Xuhui Sun: Soochow University
Zhen Wen: Soochow University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract The demand for portable and rapid identification of liquids has challenged traditional laboratory methods. Here, we propose a high-accuracy liquid identification strategy that integrates water droplet mechanics and solid–liquid interface contact electrification. By applying non-Hookean mechanical properties of droplets, we fabricate a lotus leaf-inspired ZnO–Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) superhydrophobic solid–liquid sensor. Based on the special mechanical–electric coupling interface, it achieves the highest droplet pressure sensitivity of 281 mV/Pa. We have made a breakthrough in detecting diverse solution composition with a high monitoring resolution of 5 nM metal ions and 0.1% of alcohol concentration. Through the design of double-stacked devices, triboelectric signals are able to be decoupled into mechanical and contact electrification dual-mode signals. With the integration of a gated recurrent unit (GRU) model, intelligent identification of ten liquids has reached an ultrahigh accuracy of 99%, opening up a pathway for portable liquid monitoring.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62524-0

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