The non-invasive, transparent, flexible and water-resistant nanofilm electrode from the Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan, aims to resolve the technical barriers that have previously prevented widespread take-up of thin-film leaf electrodes, including a lack of transparency and water resistance. It does this by detecting plant diseases early on.
One particularly tricky obstacle is the presence of trichomes – the tiny hair-like structures found on the leaves of many economically important crops, including soybeans, tomatoes, and eggplants. Trichomes are critical to plant health because they shield crops from UV light and heat, repel pathogens and reduce water loss. Existing thin-film electrodes are designed to simply cover trichomes, disrupting their function and damaging the leaf over time.
This nanofilm electrode is made from conductive, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) deposited onto a flexible elastomer layer. At only 70-320nm thick, the films are extremely thin and can conform closely to complex leaf surfaces without the need for adhesives. This allows the hairs to easily pierce through the device.
This trichome-piercing mechanism is said to enable stable electrical contact without damaging plant tissues or compromising key biological processes. The electrodes also prove highly transparent, transmitting over 80% of incoming light and allowing photosynthesis to continue normally.
The device is reportedly compatible with many plant species and works by continuously recording electrical signals remotely when the plants are under stress.
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