High-resolution flexible iontronic skins for both negative and positive pressure measurement in room temperature wind tunnel applications

Flexible skins that can be laminated on curved surfaces are a desired form for wind pressure measurement. Sensors for such applications need to detect both negative and positive wind pressure with ultrahigh pressure resolution over a wide range up to 600 kPa, whereas existing flexible sensors are unsatisfactory to such demands. Here, we report a flexible skin containing two iontronic pressure sensors for negative pressure and positive pressure sensing, respectively, and show the potential of the skin for pressure measurement in room temperature wind tunnels. We control the contact state of iontronic interface of a sensor to introduce a pre-pressure that enables negative pressure sensing, exhibiting a pressure resolution of −20 Pa (0.025%) within a broad pressure regime (from −100 kPa to −10 Pa). The other sensor for positive pressure sensing exhibits a pressure-resolution of 100 Pa (0.025%) over 600 kPa, in addition to a wide frequency bandwidth up to 400 Hz. The skin with the two types of sensors can be attached on curved surfaces of wing surface for pressure measurement at various free stream velocities and angles of attack. This study provides a promising technology of using flexible skins for pressure measurement in aviation applications. Flexible skins are desired for wind pressure measurement on curved surfaces. Here, the authors report a flexible skin using two iontronic pressure sensors for negative pressure and positive pressure sensing, respectively, and demonstrate its application to pressure measurements in room temperature wind tunnels.