Flexible Organic Polymer Gas Sensor and System Integration for Smart Packaging

Abstract

With high demands and rapid development of consumer electronics related to the Internet of Things, various methods have been developed to incorporate different indicators or sensors into packaging for inspecting the safety and quality of food products conveniently. Smart packaging technology is an effective method of monitoring the status of packaged food, thus reducing food waste and food-borne related illnesses. Food quality can be directly detected from volatile compounds associated with food degradation and/or gas content of the modified atmosphere packaging. Flexible gas sensors based on organic/polymer functional materials have been widely explored to detect trace amounts of gases by exploiting their electrical or mechanical properties. This review first discusses the requirements of gas sensors and system integration for smart packaging. Then, the paper reviews recent advances and strategies of flexible organic/polymer-based gas sensors and system integration for smart packaging applications. Finally, this review summarizes the challenges and opportunities of flexible gas sensors and system integration for smart packaging applications.