Work

Skin-Conformal Hydrogel-Based Electroencephalography Electrodes with Surfactant-Reorganized PEDOT:PSS

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Electroencephalography (EEG) electrodes require low impedance, high biocompatibility, and long-term performance. Conventional Ag/AgCl wet electrodes achieve low impedance but suffer from dehydration and skin irritation, whereas dry electrodes often induce discomfort or exhibit high impedance. To address these limitations, this study engineered a hydrogel-based electrode by incorporating PEDOT:PSS and the nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 into an acrylic acid hydrogel matrix. The flexible acrylic acid backbone, conductive PEDOT:PSS domains, and the nanofibrillar network promoted by Triton X-100 simultaneously enhanced mechanical compliance and electrical stability. In addition, the structural rearrangement of PEDOT:PSS was verified through morphological analyses. The fabricated electrode exhibited a modulus comparable to human soft tissue, demonstrated strong interfacial adhesion in shear tests, and significantly reduced skin-electrode contact impedance. Furthermore, EEG measurements showed that the hydrogel electrode achieved alpha- and beta-band signal power comparable to commercial Ag/AgCl electrodes. These findings establish the PEDOT:PSS-Triton X-100 hydrogel electrode as a promising candidate to replace conventional wet and dry electrodes for reliable EEG applications.

Source: Materials

DOI: 10.3390/ma18204781

Authors: Ji-Yoon Ahn, Jihyeon Oh, Mi-Ri An, Kun-Woo Nam, Jin-Whan Kim, Sung-Hoon Park

Institution: Soongsil University

Language: English

Topic: Conducting polymers and applications

Subfield: Polymers and Plastics

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137