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"IEEE Sensors Alert" is a pilot project of the IEEE Sensors Council. Started as one of its new initiatives, this weekly digest publishes teasers and condensed versions of our journal papers in layperson's language.
Articles Posted in the Month (March 2026)
Tattoo-Like Flexible Ethylene Sensor for Plant Stress Monitoring in Real-Time
Published in: IEEE Sensors Journal (Volume: 25, Issue: 15, August 2025)
Summary Contributed by: Shawana Tabassum (Author)
Imagine a "tattoo" for plants that helps them "talk" with agriculturist and researchers about their physiological processes. This paper presents a paper-thin, flexible sensor that sticks to a leaf like a temporary tattoo for real-time, continuous monitoring of ethylene, a key plant stress hormone. This breakthrough tattoo sensor will enable smarter crop management and early stress detection in plants before any visible damage occurs.
Silver Microneedle Array Printed via Aerosol Jet Enhance the Electrochemical Detection of Carboxylated Carbon Nanotubes for Chloramphenicol
Author: Cao Lei, Xiong Shixian, Fan Lanlan, Gu Feng, Liu Feng, Liu Shiji, Liu Yin, Liu Zhecheng, Zhu Qian
Published in: IEEE Sensors Journal (Volume: 25, Issue: 15, August 2025)
Summary Contributed by: Cao Lei (Author)
Excessive use of Chloramphenicol (CAP), a widely used broad-spectrum antibiotic in livestock, is harming the environment and health. This paper introduces a carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs-COOH)-decorated 3-D silver microneedle array, fabricated using aerosol jet printing (AJP) technology on a screen-printed carbon working electrode (SPCE). This approach enabled compact, minimally invasive, and sensitive detection of CAP, facilitating quicker, more accurate environmental monitoring, enhancing food safety, and supporting public health protection.
A Stretchable Tactile Sensor Array Based on Hydrogel Ionic Diodes
Author: Liu Xinyu, Wu Xia, Zhang Zefang
Published in: IEEE Sensors Journal (Volume: 25, Issue: 16, August 2025)
Summary Contributed by: Xinyu Liu (Author)
Human skin transmits the sensation of touch through precisely regulated ionic signals. Researchers developed a soft-gel tactile sensor array that integrates ionic diodes, applying this principle to robotic skin. These diodes control the movement of ions similar to biological synapses, converting gentle pressure into ionic responses. The innovation brings artificial skin closer to mimicking the functions of real skin, showing potential for advanced iontronic applications in robotics and prosthetics.
The fragility of smart wearables has driven demand for flexible, stretchable sensors. This study presents a self-healing, recyclable strain sensor made from a Diels–Alder polymer and liquid metal, which can fully restore its functionality even when cut in half. This durable, repairable, and eco-friendly stretchable device, with excellent sensing performance, is well-suited for smart wearables and paves the way for sustainable soft electronics in health monitoring and robotics.
Evaluating Event-Based Vision Sensing in Rain and Fog
Author: Delaney Ethan, Brophy Tim, Collins Fiachra, Deegan Brian, Glavin Martin, Jones Edward, Ward Enda
Published in: IEEE Sensors Journal (Volume: 25, Issue: 16, August 2025)
Summary Contributed by: Ethan Delaney
Event-based sensors are being considered for use in automotive perception systems, due to their high temporal resolution, high dynamic range, and low latency. However, their performance in adverse weather conditions must be validated before large-scale rollout. This study characterizes the impact of rain and fog on event camera performance in controlled conditions. It introduces methods to mitigate these effects, offering fresh insights for autonomous vehicles, outdoor monitoring, and robotics.
Phytic Acid/MXene@Polyurethane Sponge-Based Flexible Pressure Sensor With Assistance of MC-GRU Model for Motion Posture Recognition
Author: Zhang Dongzhi, Guo Yihong, Wang Weiwei, Xia Hui, Yang Chunqing, Zhang Hao, Zhou Lina
Published in: IEEE Sensors Journal (Volume: 25, Issue: 15, August 2025)
Summary Contributed by: Payal Savani
Pressure sensors, essential for flexible electronics, face limitations in detection range and structural instability. This study presents a flexible pressure sensor fabricated using phytic acid-modified MXene nanosheets coated on a polyurethane sponge. The device demonstrates high sensitivity (16.71 kPa⁻¹), a broad detection range (0–175 kPa), and excellent flame retardancy. When integrated with a multilayer convolutional gated recurrent unit (MC-GRU) model, the system achieved high-fidelity human-motion recognition, enabling next-generation smart wearables and human–machine interfaces.
HBV-Testing: HKUST-1-Modified Electrochemical Immunosensor for Point-of-Care Testing of Hepatitis B
Author: Yuliarto Brian, Dewi Kariana Kusuma, Raihan Muhammad Fadlan, Septiani Ni Luh Wulan, Wustoni Shofarul
Published in: IEEE Sensors Journal (Volume: 25, Issue: 15, August 2025)
Summary Contributed by: Brian Yuliarto (Author)
Early detection of Hepatitis B is crucial to prevent severe liver conditions. The hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) appears early in infection, making it a key biomarker. This study introduces the HBV-Test, a portable electrochemical immunosensor designed for rapid, affordable HBsAg detection at the point-of-care. Using a copper-based nanomaterial (HKUST-1), it almost accurately identifies viral antigens in 5 minutes. Its robust clinical performance supports its use directly in healthcare systems.
High-Sensitivity CQDs-Modified ZnO Nanowire Gas Sensor Fabricated on 3-D Substrate for Acetone Detection
Author: Ma Liuhong, Chen Pandi, Duan Zhiyong, Fu Yingchun, He Fan, Li Mengke, Li Puguang, Si Chaowei, Zhang Xin
Published in: IEEE Sensors Journal (Volume: 25, Issue: 12, June 2025)
Summary Contributed by: Saurabh Dubey
A Carbon quantum dot (CQD)-modified zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowire gas sensor designed on a 3-D micropillar substrate enables high-sensitivity, low-temperature acetone detection. The 3-D structure increases surface area, while CQD form p–n heterojunctions that enhance adsorption and selectivity. This sensor shows scalable, energy-efficient, and reliable performance, achieving higher sensitivity and lower operating temperature than unmodified ZnO, making it ideal for industrial, environmental, and commercial applications in acetone monitoring.
Published in: IEEE Sensors Journal (Volume: 25, Issue: 15, August 2025)
Summary Contributed by: Frank J. Wouda (Author)
With increasing life expectancy, gait disorders that worsen with age have become a global concern. Presently, body-worn devices with multiple on-body sensors are required for accurate gait monitoring. This study proposes a novel portable gait analysis setup that combines an ultra-wideband (UWB) sensor and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) on each foot to track accurately their positions (within 2.5cm) and orientation (within 4 degrees) in real time without drift.
Published in: IEEE Sensors Journal (Volume: 25, Issue: 15, August 2025)
Summary Contributed by: Payal Savani
In diabetes management, noninvasive and painless glucose monitoring is challenging. This work presents a flexible, side-gated field-effect transistor (FET) test strip that uses graphene oxide (GO)-catalyzed CuO-ZnO hollow spheres for saliva-based glucose sensing. Demonstrating excellent reproducibility and repeatability, this portable platform achieved an ultra-low limit of detection (0.001 μM) and high sensitivity (1600 μA·mM⁻¹) across a wide range of saliva concentrations, offering a point-of-care solution for glucose monitoring.
The recent COVID outbreaks highlighted the need for breathing rate monitoring and increased the demand for hospitalized patients. Monitoring breathing rate is vital for diagnosing diseases and observing patients with pulmonary conditions. The pros and cons of different techniques are studied and categorized under contact and remote modes of respiratory monitoring systems. Various Radar-based methods found to be more suitable for respiration monitoring are discussed.
Radar detection of smaller targets requires lowering the radar cross-section and velocity thresholds. With it, an abundance of target signatures gets generated, making it necessary to classify only relevant targets. Micro-motions of targets are significant characteristics. Micro-Doppler signatures have emerged as an effective method of classifying such targets. The study presents a systematic review of various micro-Doppler-based radar target signature analysis and classification techniques.
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