Artificial laurent phial electric field sensor and preparation and application method thereof

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of artificial lawrence flask electric field sensors and preparation and application method thereof, the artificial lawrence flask electric field sensor of the present application includes upper electrode, lawrence flask array, lower electrode and metal current collector, lawrence flask array includes filling body and multiple lawrence flasks in it, each lawrence flask includes mutually interconnected flask tube and flask abdomen and lower electrode and metal current collector at the bottom of flask abdomen, flask tube and flask abdomen are filled with conductive gel, and the conductive gel is negative to attract and transfer cation in seawater to lower electrode, so that lower electrode and cation occur pseudo-capacitance reaction, resulting in output capacitance value changes to respond to external electric field change.The present application aims to realize underwater weak electric field sensing, solve the problem of improving the resolution of existing mobile electric field sensor, endow underwater mobile platform with nV / m electric field sensing capability, and provide key technical support for supporting the construction of large-scale, mobile ocean weak electric field continuous detection.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of underwater electric field sensing technology, specifically relating to an artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor and its preparation and application methods. Background Technology

[0002] Underwater electric field sensors can be mounted on underwater mobile platforms such as unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), offering advantages such as high mobility and wide detection range. They have significant application value in fields such as marine oil and gas exploration, seabed mineral exploration, and underwater target detection. Currently, underwater mobile electric field sensors are generally classified into two categories based on electrode materials: reversible electrodes and inert electrodes. Reversible electrodes include Hg / Hg₂Cl₂, Pb / PbCl₂, and Ag / AgCl electrodes, which mainly rely on a reversible redox reaction between the electrode and seawater to cause a change in electrode potential. Inert electrodes are generally made of carbon fiber. These electrodes utilize their surface double layer to adsorb charged ions from the outside, converting changes in the external electric field into a potential difference between the electrode pairs. Both types of sensors require establishing electrochemical equilibrium with seawater. This makes it difficult to establish electrochemical equilibrium when the sensor is in relative motion with the seawater, resulting in increased dynamic noise, range, and other indicators, affecting the sensor's resolution. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the aforementioned problems in existing technologies, this invention aims to provide an artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor and its preparation and application methods. This invention aims to achieve underwater weak electric field sensing, solve the problem of improving the resolution of existing mobile electric field sensors, endow underwater mobile platforms with nV / m electric field sensing capabilities, and provide key technical support for supporting the construction of large-scale, mobile continuous detection of weak ocean electric fields.

[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0005] An artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor includes an upper electrode, a Lawrence pot array, a lower electrode, and a metal current collector. The Lawrence pot array includes a filling body and multiple Lawrence pots located inside the filling body. Each Lawrence pot includes an interconnected pot tube and a pot belly, as well as a lower electrode and a metal current collector located at the bottom of the pot belly. The upper electrode is arranged at the top of the pot tube. The lower electrode is made of a pseudocapacitive material and coated on the metal current collector for electrical connection and conduction. The pot tube and pot belly are filled with a conductive gel. The conductive gel is negatively charged to attract and aggregate cations in seawater and transfer them to the lower electrode, causing the lower electrode to undergo a pseudocapacitive reaction with the cations, resulting in a change in the output capacitance value in response to changes in the external electric field.

[0006] Optionally, the upper electrode is activated carbon cloth or hydrophobic carbon cloth.

[0007] Optionally, the filler of the Lawrence pot array is silicone or resin material.

[0008] Optionally, the conductive gel is a high proton conductivity conductive gel, which includes some or all of chondroitin sulfate-based gel, glycosaminoglycan-based gel, and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide-based gel.

[0009] Optionally, the pseudocapacitive material includes some or all of MXene and molybdenum sulfide.

[0010] Optionally, the Lawrence pot array is installed in a package, and a detection circuit is provided at the bottom of the package. The metal current collectors of each Lawrence pot in the Lawrence pot array are electrically connected to the detection circuit.

[0011] Optionally, the encapsulation body is mounted on a detection carrier, which is an underwater mobile device, an underwater fixed object, or a floating object. The encapsulation body is directly mounted on the detection carrier or mounted on the detection carrier through a connecting component, which is a connecting rod, a connecting frame, or a connecting rope.

[0012] A method for fabricating the aforementioned artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor includes the following steps: fabricating a filler for the Lawrence pot array to form each Lawrence pot; filling the interior of the Lawrence pot with conductive gel; fixing the upper electrode onto the Lawrence pot array using a hot-pressing molding process; coating the metal current collector of each Lawrence pot with pseudocapacitive material to create the lower electrode; electrically connecting the metal current collectors at the bottom of all Lawrence pots to a detection circuit; assembling the Lawrence pot, the detection circuit, and the encapsulation body and performing waterproof and pressure-resistant treatment to obtain the fabricated artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor.

[0013] A method for applying the aforementioned artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor includes the following steps:

[0014] S101, acquire the detection signals of each Lawrence pot in the artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor;

[0015] S102, the detection signals of each Lawrence pot are normalized and then input into a pre-trained machine learning model to obtain the device type, orientation, and distance of the underwater target device; the machine learning model is pre-trained to establish a mapping relationship between the normalized detection signals of each Lawrence pot and the device type, orientation, and distance of the underwater target device.

[0016] The detection signals of each Lawrence pot in step S101 include: the capacitance change of each Lawrence pot, the signal frequency, the three-dimensional coordinates of the Lawrence pot, and part or all of the signal acquisition timestamp. The equipment type of the underwater target device includes underwater moving targets, seabed static targets, and marine environmental electric field anomaly sources.

[0017] Compared with existing technologies, the present invention mainly achieves the following beneficial effects: The Lawrence pot electroreceptor is a unique electric field-sensing organ found in cartilaginous fish such as sharks and rays. It is the most resolving electric field-sensitive organ known in nature, possessing an ultra-high electric field resolution on the order of nV / m within the 1-20Hz frequency band, capable of sensitively detecting changes in the muscle potential of prey several kilometers away. The Lawrence pot electroreceptors are distributed locally on the head and snout of sharks and rays, spanning several meters. 2 Within a certain range, the device comprises numerous Lawrence pots, each approximately 250 μm in length. Inspired by the Lawrence pot electroreceptor, this invention's artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor utilizes the local electric field distortion of the Lawrence pot structure and the cation aggregation of the high-proton-conductivity conductive gel within the pot to sense weak underwater electric fields. This solves the problem of improving the resolution of existing mobile electric field sensors, endowing underwater mobile platforms with nV / m electric field sensing capabilities. It can be arrayed on the seabed and mounted on buoys or underwater mobile platforms, possessing advantages of high resolution and low noise. It provides key technical support for constructing large-scale, mobile, continuous detection of weak marine electric fields. This artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor is convenient to store and transport, with no special environmental requirements. The sensor has stable physicochemical properties, requires no consumables, and theoretically has no upper limit on its operating time. The sensor exhibits good stability; after deployment, the stabilization time is extremely short, with minimal range drift between static and dynamic states over 24 hours, low static and dynamic noise, and high resolution. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a three-dimensional partial cross-sectional structure of the artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the Lawrence pot in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the working principle of the Lawrence pot in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the first detection carrier of the artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the second detection carrier for the artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the third detection carrier for the artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Legend: 1. Upper electrode; 2. Pot tube; 3. Pot belly; 4. Lower electrode; 5. Metal current collector; 6. Package; 7. Detection circuit; 9. Detection carrier. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions of the present invention, the technical solutions of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0026] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor in this embodiment includes an upper electrode 1, a Lawrence pot array, a lower electrode 4, and a metal current collector 5. The Lawrence pot array includes a filling body and multiple Lawrence pots located inside the filling body for acquiring weak electric field signals in the ocean. Each Lawrence pot includes an interconnected pot tube 2 and a pot belly 3, and a lower electrode 4 and a metal current collector 5 located at the bottom of the pot belly 3. The upper electrode 1 is arranged at the top of the pot tube 2, and the lower electrode 4 is made of pseudocapacitive material and coated on the metal current collector 5 for electrical connection and conduction. The pot tube 2 and the pot belly 3 are filled with conductive gel. Figure 3 As shown, the conductive gel is negatively charged to specifically attract and aggregate H+ in seawater. + Na + The isocations are transferred and transported to the lower electrode 4, so that the lower electrode 4 is in contact with H+. + Na + The pseudocapacitive reaction of cations causes a change in the output capacitance value in response to changes in the external electric field. When the artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor senses weak underwater electric field signals, the underwater electric field is often accompanied by the regular movement of surrounding seawater ions. The spatial occupancy of the pot tube 2 and the pot belly 3 alters the original electric field line distribution, causing distortion of the surrounding local electric field and producing a certain degree of electric field amplification. The high proton conductivity conductive gel filling the Lawrence pot specifically adsorbs H₂ from seawater. + Na + The ampulla 3 is enriched with positive ions by using cations; the pseudocapacitive electrode material reacts with the high concentration of cations in the ampulla 3 via a pseudocapacitive reaction, enabling a sensitive response to weak underwater electric field signals. The conductive gel is negatively charged and can accumulate positively charged ions in the ampulla 3. The lower electrode 4 is located at the bottom of the ampulla, efficiently adsorbing the positively charged ions accumulated in the ampulla 3 and generating a pseudocapacitive reaction, which are then discharged using the metal current collector 5 below.

[0027] The upper electrode 1 can be activated carbon cloth or hydrophobic carbon cloth.

[0028] The filler of the Lawrence pot array is made of silicone or resin material.

[0029] The conductive gel is a high proton conductivity conductive gel, which includes some or all of the following: chondroitin sulfate-based gel, glycosaminoglycan-based gel, and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI)-based gel.

[0030] The pseudocapacitive materials include some or all of MXene and molybdenum sulfide.

[0031] like Figure 1 As shown, in this embodiment, the Lawrence kettle array is installed in the encapsulation body 6. A detection circuit 7 is located at the bottom of the encapsulation body 6. The encapsulation body 6 provides waterproof and pressure-resistant protection for the Lawrence kettles and the detection circuit 7. The metal current collectors 5 of each Lawrence kettle in the array are electrically connected to the detection circuit 7. The encapsulation body 6 can be made of polylactic acid (PLA) material using a 3D printing method, resulting in good waterproof and pressure-resistant capabilities and avoiding the influence of weak external electric fields.

[0032] As an optional implementation, the detection circuit 7 includes a signal amplification and acquisition module and a data processing and analysis module. The signal amplification and acquisition module amplifies, conditions, and performs analog-to-digital conversion on the received electric field signal before transmitting it to the data processing and analysis module. The data processing and analysis module analyzes the received electric field signal using intelligent algorithms to determine the equipment type, orientation, and distance of the underwater target device, and stores the original electric field data and processing results. Alternatively, the detection circuit 7 can also employ a signal amplification and acquisition module and a transmitter to send the electric field signal to a backend for processing and storage.

[0033] The encapsulation body 6 is mounted on the detection carrier 9, which can be an underwater mobile device, a fixed underwater object, or a floating object. The encapsulation body 6 is directly mounted on the detection carrier 9 or mounted on the detection carrier 9 via connecting components, such as connecting rods, connecting frames, or connecting ropes. This embodiment of the artificial Lawrence kettle electric field sensor has a wide range of applications, including scenarios requiring dynamic detection of underwater electric field signals, such as... Figure 4As shown, the detection carrier 9 can be an underwater mobile device. The artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor of this embodiment is attached to the surface of the underwater mobile device, responding to weak underwater electric fields during movement, achieving large-scale, high-precision underwater electric field detection. This artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor can be flexibly attached to the surface of mobile platforms such as underwater vehicles, unmanned underwater vehicles, or ships, moving with the platform. During movement, the artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor can continuously and in real-time capture and respond to weak underwater electric field signals, effectively overcoming the limitations of traditional static point measurement ranges. Through the path coverage of the moving platform, the system can perform scanning detection of the electric field distribution in a wide area of ​​water, achieving large-scale spatial coverage while maintaining high sensitivity and high-precision measurement of weak signals, thus significantly improving the efficiency and capability of underwater dynamic electric field detection.

[0034] like Figure 5 As shown, the detection carrier 9 can be a fixed underwater object, such as in nearshore or port areas. The artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor of this embodiment can be deployed on the seabed to form a detection array, enabling long-term, continuous monitoring of weak electric fields within a specific area. In the seabed environment, the artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor of this embodiment can be deployed in a distributed manner to construct a high-density, gridded sensor array on the seabed. Each node of this sensor array continuously collects and senses weak underwater electric field signals within the designated area. This static, long-term deployment mode is particularly suitable for scenarios requiring continuous monitoring of specific key areas.

[0035] like Figure 6 As shown, the detection carrier 9 can be a floating object. For example, in open sea areas, the artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor of this embodiment can be mounted on a floating platform to form a distributed monitoring network for continuous and extensive observation of electric field changes in the target sea area. In scenarios involving large-scale monitoring in open sea areas, the artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor of this embodiment can be integrated onto multiple ocean buoys, drifting platforms, or dedicated monitoring floats to construct a distributed, mobile monitoring network covering a wide area. Each node can drift with ocean currents or be semi-fixed through mooring, forming observation coverage of the target sea area, thereby achieving wide-area, synchronous, and long-term monitoring of the marine environmental electric field background and anomalous signals.

[0036] Furthermore, this embodiment also provides a method for fabricating the aforementioned artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor, comprising the following steps:

[0037] The filling material for the Lawrence pot array is prepared to form each Lawrence pot; conductive gel is filled into the interior of the Lawrence pot; the upper electrode 1 is fixed to the Lawrence pot array using a hot pressing process; pseudocapacitive material is coated on the metal current collector 5 of each Lawrence pot to make the lower electrode 4; the metal current collector 5 at the bottom of all Lawrence pots is electrically connected to the detection circuit 7; the Lawrence pot, the detection circuit 7 and the encapsulation body 6 are assembled and waterproofed and pressure-resistant to obtain the prepared artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor. Specifically, for example, in this embodiment, the filler of the Lawrence pot array is prepared by high-precision 3D printing using photocurable resin to achieve the shaping of each Lawrence pot. High proton conductivity conductive gel is filled into the Lawrence pot using ultrasonic-driven injection. The upper electrode 1 is fixed to the Lawrence pot using a thermoforming process. The surface of the metal current collector 5 is coated with the lower electrode 4 and aligned with the belly of the Lawrence pot. The upper electrode 1 and lower electrode 4 of the Lawrence pot are connected to the detection circuit 7. The encapsulation body 6 is made of PLA material using a 3D printing process. The encapsulation body 6 is assembled with the Lawrence pot and the detection circuit 7 and waterproofed and pressure-resistant, thereby obtaining the prepared artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor.

[0038] Furthermore, this embodiment also provides a method for applying the aforementioned artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor, including the following steps:

[0039] S101, acquire the detection signals of each Lawrence pot in the artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor;

[0040] S102, after normalizing the detection signals of each Lawrence pot, input them into the pre-trained machine learning model to obtain the device type, orientation, and distance of the underwater target device; the machine learning model is pre-trained to establish the mapping relationship between the normalized detection signals of each Lawrence pot and the device type, orientation, and distance of the underwater target device.

[0041] The detection signals of each Lawrence pot in step S101 include: the capacitance change of each Lawrence pot, the signal frequency, the three-dimensional coordinates of the Lawrence pot, part or all of the signal acquisition timestamp, the normalized detection signals of each Lawrence pot, and the detection principle of the mapping relationship between the underwater target device type, orientation, and distance is as follows: the capacitance change and spatial coordinates are mapped to the target orientation and distance through the spatial attenuation characteristics of the electric field, the signal frequency and amplitude are distinguished by the target electric field generation mechanism, and the timestamp helps to correct the positioning accuracy of the moving target.

[0042] As an optional implementation, the equipment types of underwater target devices include underwater moving targets, seabed static targets, and sources of abnormal electric fields in the marine environment.

[0043] The machine learning model can be chosen as needed, such as a neural network model. For example, as an optional implementation, a lightweight neural network structure can be used, including an input layer, a feature extraction unit, and an output layer. The input layer is used to input the normalized detection signals of each Lawrence pot (capacitance change, signal frequency, 3D coordinates of the Lawrence pot, and signal acquisition timestamp). The feature extraction unit uses cascaded multi-level deep separable convolutions. The output layer includes multiple branches, one classification branch for predicting the type of underwater target equipment, and two regression branches for predicting the location and distance of the underwater target equipment, respectively.

[0044] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. All technical solutions falling within the scope of the present invention's concept are within the scope of protection of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, any improvements and modifications made without departing from the principles of the present invention should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor, characterized in that, The device includes an upper electrode (1), a Lawrence pot array, a lower electrode (4), and a metal current collector (5). The Lawrence pot array includes a filling body and multiple Lawrence pots located inside the filling body. Each Lawrence pot includes an interconnected pot tube (2) and a pot belly (3), as well as a lower electrode (4) and a metal current collector (5) located at the bottom of the pot belly (3). The upper electrode (1) is arranged on the top of the pot tube (2). The lower electrode (4) is made of pseudocapacitive material and coated on the metal current collector (5) to be electrically connected to the metal current collector (5). The pot tube (2) and the pot belly (3) are filled with conductive gel. The conductive gel is negatively charged to attract and aggregate cations in seawater and transfer them to the lower electrode (4), so that the lower electrode (4) reacts with the cations in a pseudocapacitive manner, resulting in a change in the output capacitance value in response to changes in the external electric field.

2. The artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper electrode (1) is an activated carbon cloth or a hydrophobic carbon cloth.

3. The artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The filler of the Lawrence pot array is silicone or resin material.

4. The artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The conductive gel is a high proton conductivity conductive gel, which includes some or all of chondroitin sulfate-based gel, glycosaminoglycan-based gel, and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide-based gel.

5. The artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pseudocapacitive material includes some or all of MXene and molybdenum sulfide.

6. The artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The Lawrence pot array is installed in a package (6), and a detection circuit (7) is provided at the bottom of the package (6). The metal current collectors (5) of each Lawrence pot in the Lawrence pot array are electrically connected to the detection circuit (7).

7. The artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor according to claim 6, characterized in that, The encapsulation body (6) is installed on the detection carrier (9), which is an underwater mobile device, an underwater fixed object, or a floating object. The encapsulation body (6) is directly installed on the detection carrier (9) or installed on the detection carrier (9) through a connecting component, which is a connecting rod, a connecting frame, or a connecting rope.

8. A method for preparing an artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor as described in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, The process includes the following steps: preparing the filler for the Lawrence pot array to form each Lawrence pot; filling the interior of the Lawrence pot with conductive gel; fixing the upper electrode (1) onto the Lawrence pot array using a hot pressing process; coating the metal current collector (5) of each Lawrence pot with pseudocapacitive material to create the lower electrode (4); electrically connecting the metal current collector (5) at the bottom of all Lawrence pots to the detection circuit (7); assembling the Lawrence pot, the detection circuit (7), and the encapsulation body (6) and performing waterproof and pressure-resistant treatment to obtain the prepared artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor.

9. A method for applying the artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S101, acquire the detection signals of each Lawrence pot in the artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor; S102, after normalizing the detection signals of each Lawrence pot, input them into a pre-trained machine learning model to obtain the device type, orientation, and distance of the underwater target device; The machine learning model was pre-trained to establish a normalized mapping relationship between the detection signals of each Lawrence pot, and the device type, orientation, and distance of the underwater target device.

10. The application method of the artificial Lawrence pot electric field sensor according to claim 9, characterized in that, The detection signals of each Lawrence pot in step S101 include: the capacitance change of each Lawrence pot, the signal frequency, the three-dimensional coordinates of the Lawrence pot, and part or all of the signal acquisition timestamp. The equipment type of the underwater target device includes underwater moving targets, seabed static targets, and marine environmental electric field anomaly sources.

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