UT Austin Researchers Develop Graphene Sensor to Measure Plant Hydration

New technology provides real-time data on leaf moisture levels to help predict wildfires and improve agricultural yields.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 4:57pm

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An abstract painting in the style of Hilma af Klint, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals in earthy green, ochre, and blue tones, conceptually representing the complex scientific forces and natural phenomena behind a plant hydration sensor.A graphene-based sensor that can monitor plant hydration levels in real-time promises to revolutionize wildfire prediction and agricultural productivity.Austin Today

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a graphene-based electronic tattoo that can be applied to plant leaves to directly measure their hydration levels in real-time. This breakthrough technology offers a more efficient and less destructive way to gather critical data on leaf moisture content, which is a key indicator of wildfire risk and plant health. The sensor requires minimal power and can be deployed at scale to monitor entire forests or agricultural fields.

Why it matters

Leaf water levels are the best indicator of 'live fuel moisture content,' a leading predictor of wildfires. Current methods for measuring this are manual and damaging to plants. The UT Austin technology provides a simpler, more efficient way to continuously monitor moisture levels, allowing for better wildfire forecasting. It could also lead to improvements in agricultural yields, water conservation, and food security by providing real-time data on plant health.

The details

The sensor uses graphene to track hydration levels by detecting changes in leaf conductance when ions move in response to a small electrical charge. It requires just 23 attojoules of energy per reading and 0.23 microwatts of power, making it feasible to deploy at scale using solar power. The sensors also have 'artificial synaptic behavior,' allowing them to process data locally rather than transmitting it to external processors.

  • The research was recently published in the journal Nano Letters.

The players

Jean Anne Incorvia

Associate professor in the Cockrell School of Engineering's Chandra Family Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and one of the leaders on the new research.

Ashley Matheny

Associate professor in the Jackson School of Geosciences' Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, who focuses on vegetation, water and soil and how they impact issues like drought and wildfire.

Deji Akinwande

Graphene expert and electrical and computer engineer.

Dmitry Kireev

Former postdoctoral researcher of Deji Akinwande, now an assistant professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

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What they’re saying

“Being able to directly measure and monitor the live leaf over time, at the point of photosynthesis, gives us more information to understand the health of our plant ecosystems, whether that's an individual plant or an entire forest.”

— Jean Anne Incorvia, Associate professor

“Instead of having to send people out at all different times of day, we can collect data nearly instantaneously in critical periods like early morning and late afternoon, or on a hot windy day so we can see how it responds to that environmental signal.”

— Ashley Matheny, Associate professor

What’s next

The researchers plan to combine this work on leaf hydration with Matheny's previous research on soil and wood hydration levels to help improve wildfire prediction capabilities.

The takeaway

This graphene-based sensor technology provides a breakthrough in the ability to continuously monitor plant health and moisture levels, which could lead to major advancements in wildfire forecasting, agricultural productivity, and water conservation efforts.