From miniaturization to intelligence: The emerging autonomy of electrochemical sensors

Future autonomous electrochemical sensors include on-board signal processing, AI, IoT/LoRaWAN wireless connectivity/communication protocols, and ambient self-energy harvesting. These devices will revolutionize not only early multi-analyte quantification from geographically dispersed connected sensors, but also up-to-date intervention strategies. This opinion discusses challenges and future prospects and directions of sensor autonomy. It also follows the progress of electrochemical sensors miniaturization, highlighting the microfabrication techniques, novel nanomaterials, flexible platforms, and miniaturized electrochemical cells for on-site, decentralized, and PoC analysis. Key applications on health monitoring, food quality/safety control and agricultural/environmental surveillance are further described. • MEC sensors offer a platform for decentralized and PoC electrochemical analysis • Miniaturization alone is insufficient to achieve stand-alone/autonomous sensing • IoT and LoRaWAN connectivity allow remote and distributed sensing systems • AI enables adaptive signal interpretation and real-time decision-making • Energy harvesting is pivotal to future self-powered autonomous sensors