Micro/Nano Soft Film Sensors for Intelligent Plant Systems: Materials, Fabrications, and Applications

Being abundant as natural intelligence, plants have attracted huge attention from researchers. Soft film sensors present a novel and promising approach to connect plants with artificial devices, helping us to investigate plants' intelligence further. Here, recent developments for micro/nano soft film sensors that can be used for establishing intelligent plant systems are summarized, including essential materials, fabrications, and application scenarios. Conductive metals, nanomaterials, and polymers are discussed as basic materials for active layers and substrates of soft film sensors. The corresponding fabrication techniques, such as laser machining, printing, coating, and vapor deposition, have also been surveyed and discussed. Moreover, by combining soft film sensors with plants, applications for intelligent plant systems are also investigated, including plant physiology detection and plant-hybrid systems. Finally, the existing challenges and future opportunities are prospected.

Automated summary

As natural intelligence, plants have attracted significant attention from researchers. Soft film sensors provide a promising approach to connect plants with artificial devices, enabling further investigation into plants' intelligence. This article summarizes recent developments in micro/nano soft film sensors for establishing intelligent plant systems, including essential materials, fabrication techniques, and application scenarios. Conductive metals, nanomaterials, and polymers are discussed as basic materials, and corresponding fabrication techniques like laser machining and printing are surveyed. Additionally, applications for intelligent plant systems, such as plant physiology detection and plant-hybrid systems, are investigated, and existing challenges and future opportunities are discussed.