Elastic Organic Crystals as Bioinspired Hair-Like Sensors.

Abstract

One of the typical haptic elements are natural hairy structures that animals and plants rely on for feedback. Although these hair sensors are an admirable inspiration, the development of active flow sensing components having low elastic moduli and high aspect ratios remains a challenge. Here, we report a new sensing approach based on a flexible thin and optically transmissive organic crystal of high aspect ratio, which is stamped with fluorescent dye for tracking. When subjected to gas flow and exposed to laser, the crystal bends due to exerted pressure and acts as optical flow sensor with low detection limit (~1.578 ms-1) and fast response time (~2.70 s). The air-flow-induced crystal deformation and flow dynamics response are modelled by finite element analysis. Due to the simple design, light-weight, and mechanical robustness, this prototypical crystal hair-like sensor opens prospects for a new class of sensing devices from wearable electronics to aeronautics.