Wearable Sensors for On-Leaf Monitoring of Volatile Organic Compounds Emissions from Plants

A wearable electrochemical sensor was developed for on-leaf detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions from plants. The sensor was made of all flexible materials that allow conformable attachment to the leaf. Selective detection of methanol, one of the major VOC emissions by maize plant, was realized via a unique recognition interface formed between the conducting polymer microcrystallites and platinum nanoparticles (Pt-polymer). The Pt-polymer interface was formed using a simple green electrochemical polymerization process. In a field condition, we demonstrated monitoring of VOCs using the wearable sensor technology. The presented sensor exhibited a high selectivity to gaseous methanol, a low sub-ppm limit of detection, and a high tolerance to temperature and humidity variations in the crop field.