A Review: Improve the Stretchability of Wearable Sensors Based on the Materials and Methods

Wearable sensors are emerging data collection tools. Despite advanced technology in sensor fabrication, their stretchability and gauge factor remain underdeveloped. Materials and methods are crucial in enhancing these aspects of sensors. This paper delves into various emerging materials and methods, including carbon nanotube/graphite, Ag NPs/CNTs, liquid alloy, AWS, buckling technique, and embedding conductive materials into elastic polymer composites, and thoroughly evaluates their pros and cons. It also identifies key challenges in achieving adequate stretchability for plant growth adaptation and monitoring specific plant structures, and highlights the need for specialized materials and designs. Furthermore, this review offers potential solutions to these challenges by suggesting interdisciplinary approaches, stress-releasing designs, and the development of flexible secondary batteries. The review also emphasizes the importance of collaboration between agriculture, plant science, and engineering fields to enhance the performance of wearable plant sensors. By leveraging the progress in wearable human healthcare sensors and focusing on stress-releasing structural designs, the development of flexible secondary batteries is crucial to meet the dual requirements of small battery size and sufficient power range for plant-wearable sensing systems. The aim is to provide comprehensive insights and inspiration for advancing sensor research and development.