All-Organic, Solution-Processed, Extremely Conformal, Mechanically Biocompatible, and Breathable Epidermal Electrodes

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c22397
• Publication Date: 2021-01-20T09:58:22Z
• Authors: Wooseong Jeong; Yuri Park; Gihyeok Gwon; Jinkyu Song; Seungsun Yoo; Jihoon Bae; Young Hwii Ko; Ji-Hyuk Choi; Sungwon Lee
• Keywords: Nanofibers; high-vacuum processes; mesh structures; Biocompatible Materials; Hydrothermal treatment; 02 engineering and technology; Biochemistry; Space Science; biometric devices; Breathable Epidermal Electrodes Con.; Materials Testing; breathable devices; form breathable electrodes; ON-SKIN; CONDUCTIVITY; PEDOT; Cancer; air permeability; Noble metals; biocompatible epidermal electrodes; Infectious Diseases; Health monitoring; Medicine; 0210 nano-technology; Biotechnology; 570; skin problems; Biometry; epidermal device; Biophysics; 610; Thiophenes; Nanomesh electrode; epidermal electrode; Biometric device; Inorganic Chemistry; Wearable Electronic Devices; Virology; Mechanically Biocompatible; nanofiber-mesh structure; Humans; Electrodes; nanomesh substrates; INFLAMMATION-FREE; multistep procedures; Electric Conductivity; Computational Biology; SENSOR; Cell Biology; Organic materials; Elasticity; TRANSPARENT; Polystyrenes; PEDOTPSS FILMS; Epidermis; Conductive polymer; Extremely Conformal

Conformal integration of an epidermal device with the skin, as well as sweat and air permeability, are crucial to reduce stress on biological tissues. Nanofiber-based porous mesh structures (breathable devices) are commonly utilized to prevent skin problems. Noble metals are normally deposited on nanomesh substrates to form breathable electrodes. However, these are expensive and require high-vacuum processes involving time-consuming multistep procedures. Organic materials are suitable alternatives that can be simply processed in solution. We report a simple, cost-effective, mechanically biocompatible, and breathable organic epidermal electrode for biometric devices. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) is sprayed on a nanofiber-mesh structure, treated using only heat and water to enhance its biocompatibility and conductivity, and used as the electrode. The treatment is accomplished using an autoclave, simultaneously reducing the electrical resistance and sterilizing the electrode for practical use. This research can lead to affordable and biocompatible epidermal electrodes with improved suitability for various biomedical applications.