Frequency and temperature-dependent dielectric behaviour of fresh Aloe vera at 1 to 20 GHz microwave frequency using time domain reflectometry

Aloe vera (AV), known for its gel-filled leaves, is potentially known for its therapeutic properties and has created an interest in its applications in agriculture, medicine, cosmetics, materials science, and sensors. Understanding the dielectric behaviour at different frequencies is crucial and significant to see the possibility of the use of potential biomaterials like AV for sensor development and for studying the electric response. The present study explores the dielectric behaviour of freshly cut AV leaf with its natural moisture within the microwave frequency range of 1 to 20 GHz using the Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) technique. The variation of complex dielectric constant i.e. dielectric constant and dielectric loss of AV leaf as a function of frequency and temperature has been discussed in this paper. The Cole-Cole diagrams also have been presented. This is a unique effort to study the comprehensive analysis of the dielectric response of AV in microwave region which offers new insights into the electrical characteristics of AV.