Biomass Based Sensors: From Native Structures to Functional Enhancement and Degradation

ABSTRACT

The rapid expansion of wearable electronics, environmental monitoring, soft robotics, and the Internet of Things (IoT) has intensified the demand for sensing systems that combine reliable performance with reduced environmental burden. Biomass derived materials offer a promising route toward this goal by uniting renewable origin, structural diversity, rich interfacial chemistry, and inherent degradability within a single material platform. Yet their practical value extends beyond the straightforward replacement of synthetic polymers with natural alternatives. Recent progress has demonstrated that biomass can be engineered into functional sensing platforms through structural regulation, conductive interface design, and controlled degradation management. In this Review, biomass based sensors are examined from an integrated perspective spanning materials, devices, and end of life behavior. The intrinsic architectures and chemical functionalities of representative biomass materials are discussed in relation to their roles in enabling mechanical adaptability, electrical integration, and diverse sensing modalities, as well as in shaping durability and degradation pathways after service. By linking performance enhancement with sustainability assessment, the emerging potential of biomass derived materials as competitive candidates for high performance sensing systems with more responsible life cycles is highlighted.