title: In vivo polymerization and manufacturing of wires and supercapacitors in plants.
abstract: Electronic plants,e-Plants, are an organic bioelectronic platform that allows electronic interfacing with plants. Recently we have demonstrated plants with augmented electronic functionality. Using the vascular system and organs of a plant, we manufactured organic electronic devices and circuits in vivo, leveraging the internal structure and physiology of the plant as the template, and an integral part of the devices. However, this electronic functionality was only achieved in localized regions, whereas new electronic materials that could be distributed to every part of the plant would provide versatility in device and circuit fabrication and create possibilities for new device concepts. Here we report the synthesis of such a conjugated oligomer that can be distributed and form longer oligomers and polymer in every part of the xylem vascular tissue of aRosa floribundacutting, forming long-range conducting wires. The plant's structure acts as a physical template, whereas the plant's biochemical response mechanism acts as the catalyst for polymerization. In addition, the oligomer can cross through the veins and enter the apoplastic space in the leaves. Finally, using the plant's natural architecture we manufacture supercapacitors along the stem. Our results are preludes to autonomous energy systems integrated within plants and distribute interconnected sensor-actuator systems for plant control and optimization.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, SE-601 74 Norrkoping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stavrinidou
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, SE-601 74 Norrkoping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Roger
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9049-0829
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gabrielsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Physics and Biology, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linkoping, Sweden.
authors.forename: K Peter R
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, SE-601 74 Norrkoping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Sandeep Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, SE-601 74 Norrkoping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Juan Felipe
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Franco-Gonzalez
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, SE-601 74 Norrkoping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anton V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Volkov
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, SE-601 74 Norrkoping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Magnus P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Jonsson
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, SE-601 74 Norrkoping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grimoldi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Physics and Biology, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linkoping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elgland
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, SE-601 74 Norrkoping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Igor V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Zozoulenko
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, SE-601 74 Norrkoping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Daniel T
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2799-3490
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, SE-601 74 Norrkoping, Sweden; magnus.berggren@liu.se.
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berggren
mesh_terms: D004581:Electronics; D006801:Humans; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry*; D058105:Polymerization; D052584:Xylem / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development
keywords: conjugated oligomers; electronic plants; in vivo polymerization; supercapacitor