PIV-inspired triboelectric nanogenerator for airflow velocity sensing

Fluid diagnostic technologies play a central role in elucidating flow mechanisms, optimizing the performance of aerospace systems, supporting energy transition, and enhancing the operational efficiency of underwater equipment. However, conventional flow field measurement techniques are often limited by high costs, poor adaptability to complex environments, and demanding system requirements. Here, a novel flow field velocity measurement approach based on the operating principle of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) is proposed. The induced current signal generated during the triboelectric process is collected using an electrometer in the proposed method, enabling indirect characterization of the flow field. The induced current signal, influenced by the effective friction area, particle size, material properties, and solid particle velocity, is investigated in detail to guide the selection of structural parameters. By optimizing structural parameters, the stability and consistency of the electrical output can be significantly enhanced. Moreover, the average deviation between theoretical predictions and experimental measurements remained within 20%, validating the reliability of the proposed method. By establishing the feasibility of employing TENGs for flow field sensing, this work provides both theoretical underpinnings and practical guidance for the continued development of TENG-based real-time flow diagnostic technologies and their application in broader research domains.