Conjugation Linked PEDOT:PSS with Low Impedance and High Stretchability for Epidermal Electrophysiology.

ABSTRACT

Long-term epidermal recording of bioelectricity is of paramount importance for personal health monitoring. It requires stretchable and dry film electrodes that can be seamlessly integrated with skin. The simultaneous achievement of high conductivity and skin-like ductility of conducting materials is a prerequisite for reliable signal transduction at the dynamic interface, which is also the bottleneck of epidermal electrophysiology. Here, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are introduced as "conjugation linkers" into a topologically plasticized conducting polymer (PEDOTPSS). A thin-film electrode with high conductivity (≈3250 S cm-1) and high stretchability (crack-onset strain>100%) is obtained. In particular, the conjugation linker enables the high volumetric capacitance and the low film resistance, both of which synergically reduce the interfacial impedance. The capabilities of this electrode is further demonstrated in the precise recording of various electrophysiological signals.