Plant Tattoo Sensor Array for Leaf Relative Water Content, Surface Temperature, and Bioelectric Potential Monitoring

Abstract

This study presents a wearable plant tattoo sensor array designed for continuous monitoring of leaf temperature, relative water content, and biopotential. Current plant wearable sensor technologies often require relatively bulky substrates for sensor support and adhesives for leaf attachment, which potentially can hinder plant growth and affect long‐term measurements. The multifunctional tattoo sensor array overcomes these issues by adhering directly to the leaf surface without the need for additional supporting structures or glues. This array includes a biopotential electrode, a resistive temperature sensor, and an impedimetric water content sensor, all constructed using laminated gold‐on‐polymer thin‐film patterns. Due to their mechanical flexibility, stretchability, and conformability, the sensors can seamlessly attach to leaves via van der Waals force. Performances of these sensors are evaluated to explore plant responses under diverse growth environments. This sensor array is capable of both short‐term and long‐term monitoring, offering continuous data and detailed insights into plant physiological responses to various stress conditions.

Underground Ink: Printed Electronics Enabling Electrochemical Sensing in Soil

“…The lightweight nature of printed devices makes them well-suited for portable proximal soil sensing applications [122]. Moreover, the inherent flexibility of printable sensors ensures ease of integration onto curved surfaces and seamless conformability to diverse soil interfaces [123]. Printed electronics offer practical economic benefits by enabling cost-effective production methods, resulting in the creation of affordable sensors suitable for widespread deployment across fields.…”