DVS‐Crosslinked PEDOT:PSS Free‐Standing and Textile Electrodes toward Wearable Health Monitoring

Abstract

Conducting polymer electrodes based on poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) present many advantages for biological signal recording over traditional metal electrodes and are being steadily evaluated in health monitoring applications. A main requirement for wearable electrodes based on PEDOT:PSS is that selected additives, such as crosslinking agents, avoid the redispersion of the polymer or its postprocess delamination. In this work, a novel approach is presented to fabricate water stable conducting free‐standing films and textile electrodes by using a divinyl sulfone (DVS) crosslinker. As opposed to pristine and glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GOPS)‐crosslinked formulations, the stability of the conducting PEDOT:PSS/DVS is achieved without reducing its conductivity or an extreme stiffening of its mechanical properties. PEDOT:PSS/DVS formulation is easily processed on any substrate and forms low surface resistance free‐standing or textiles electrodes. Electrochemical and stretchable properties of the PEDOT:PSS/DVS in air and in an aqueous environment are demonstrated and its performance in recordings of electrophysiological signals such as electrocardiography is evaluated. This three‐component material shows great potential for making wearable and humidity stable devices in healthcare applications. Furthermore, it can also be highly attractive for the development of washable electroactive textiles.

Impact of Fabric Properties on Textile Pressure Sensors Performance

“…A possible reason could be that cotton fibers coated with the conducting polymer increase their stiffness and this can lead to a delamination or to cracks during the compression and decompression cycles, resulting in a variable trend. Similar results have been reported in the literature for similar mechanical stress levels [32]. The relative error associated to sensor A with EG, indicates how it is not reliable when the second dopant is present in the solution, even if it has an average better performance than sensor B without EG.…”

Functionalization Strategies of PEDOT and PEDOT:PSS Films for Organic Bioelectronics Applications

“…The recording of physiological signals is key to evaluate the physiological state of patients and healthy individuals. Moreover, the continuous monitoring enables pointof-care disease diagnostics and allows healthy persons to profit from it as preventive medicine while continuing their daily lives [137]. For instance, among these signals, the recording of cardiac activity by electrocardiography (ECG) is crucial to detect abnormalities such as tachycardia or myocardial infarction [138].…”

“…In another study, del Agua et al reported the fabrication of conducting, water stable, free-standing textile electrodes by adding the crosslinker divinyl sulfone (DVS) to PE-DOT:PSS formulations [137]. The addition of DVS enables the preparation of low resistance free-standing as well as textile electrodes without hampering the conductivity of the films nor its mechanical features.…”

Bioimpedance Sensors: A Tutorial

“…Roll-to-roll electrochemical fabrication of Ag/AgCl coated nylon yearns has been demonstrated [172], and screen and stencil printing and blade coating have been combined for wearable EIT electrode arrays on polyester fabrics [173]. Along with silver, PEDOT:PSS (with additional crosslinkers for improved properties) is playing a prominent role with textile electrodes as well [171], [174]. Of course, with textile electrode integrated into clothing, the ability of the printed electrodes to withstand multiple washing cycles for reusability is an important factor [175].…”