Ultrathin skin-conformable electrodes with high water vapor permeability and stretchability characteristics composed of single-walled carbon nanotube networks assembled on elastomeric films

Abstract Herein, we report on conductive ultrathin films (nanosheets) with the characteristics of stretchability and water vapor permeability for skin-conformable bioelectrodes. The films are fabricated by combining conductive fibrous networks of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and poly(styren...

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Main Authors: Tatsuhiro Horii, Kai Yamashita, Marimo Ito, Kei Okada, Toshinori Fujie
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-06-01
Series:NPG Asia Materials
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41427-024-00553-9
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author Tatsuhiro Horii
Kai Yamashita
Marimo Ito
Kei Okada
Toshinori Fujie
author_facet Tatsuhiro Horii
Kai Yamashita
Marimo Ito
Kei Okada
Toshinori Fujie
author_sort Tatsuhiro Horii
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Herein, we report on conductive ultrathin films (nanosheets) with the characteristics of stretchability and water vapor permeability for skin-conformable bioelectrodes. The films are fabricated by combining conductive fibrous networks of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) (SBS) nanosheets (i.e., SWCNT-SBS nanosheets). An increase in the number of SWCNT coatings increases both the thicknesses and densities of the SWCNT bundles. The SBS nanosheets coated with three layers of SWCNTs (i.e., SWCNT 3rd-SBS nanosheets) show comparable sheet resistance to the SBS nanosheets coated with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxithiophene) doped with poly(4-styrenesulfonate acid) (PEDOT:PSS) containing 5 wt.% butylene glycol (i.e., PEDOT:PSS/BG5-SBS nanosheets). In addition, the SWCNT 3rd-SBS nanosheets exhibit significantly reduced elastic moduli and increased elongations at break compared to the PEDOT:PSS/BG5-SBS nanosheets. Furthermore, the calculated water vapor transmission ratio of the 210-nm-thick SBS nanosheets (268,172 g m−2 (2 h)−1) is greater than that of the filter paper (6345 g m−2 (2 h)−1). The SWCNT 3rd-SBS nanosheets attached to model skin show high tolerances to bending and artificial sweat at different pH values (i.e., the electrical resistance changes ~1.1 times). Finally, the SWCNT 3rd-SBS nanosheet is applied to detect the surface electromyogram from the forearm of a subject. This nanosheet displays a signal-to-noise ratio similar to that of the PEDOT:PSS/BG5-SBS nanosheet.
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publishDate 2024-06-01
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spelling doaj-art-05dabbc903554cf6b2c5a584f7d2c8be2025-01-19T12:28:48ZengNature PortfolioNPG Asia Materials1884-40572024-06-0116111310.1038/s41427-024-00553-9Ultrathin skin-conformable electrodes with high water vapor permeability and stretchability characteristics composed of single-walled carbon nanotube networks assembled on elastomeric filmsTatsuhiro Horii0Kai Yamashita1Marimo Ito2Kei Okada3Toshinori Fujie4School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, B-50, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-kuSchool of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, B-50, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-kuSchool of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, B-50, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-kuSchool of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, B-50, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-kuSchool of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, B-50, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-kuAbstract Herein, we report on conductive ultrathin films (nanosheets) with the characteristics of stretchability and water vapor permeability for skin-conformable bioelectrodes. The films are fabricated by combining conductive fibrous networks of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) (SBS) nanosheets (i.e., SWCNT-SBS nanosheets). An increase in the number of SWCNT coatings increases both the thicknesses and densities of the SWCNT bundles. The SBS nanosheets coated with three layers of SWCNTs (i.e., SWCNT 3rd-SBS nanosheets) show comparable sheet resistance to the SBS nanosheets coated with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxithiophene) doped with poly(4-styrenesulfonate acid) (PEDOT:PSS) containing 5 wt.% butylene glycol (i.e., PEDOT:PSS/BG5-SBS nanosheets). In addition, the SWCNT 3rd-SBS nanosheets exhibit significantly reduced elastic moduli and increased elongations at break compared to the PEDOT:PSS/BG5-SBS nanosheets. Furthermore, the calculated water vapor transmission ratio of the 210-nm-thick SBS nanosheets (268,172 g m−2 (2 h)−1) is greater than that of the filter paper (6345 g m−2 (2 h)−1). The SWCNT 3rd-SBS nanosheets attached to model skin show high tolerances to bending and artificial sweat at different pH values (i.e., the electrical resistance changes ~1.1 times). Finally, the SWCNT 3rd-SBS nanosheet is applied to detect the surface electromyogram from the forearm of a subject. This nanosheet displays a signal-to-noise ratio similar to that of the PEDOT:PSS/BG5-SBS nanosheet.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41427-024-00553-9
spellingShingle Tatsuhiro Horii
Kai Yamashita
Marimo Ito
Kei Okada
Toshinori Fujie
Ultrathin skin-conformable electrodes with high water vapor permeability and stretchability characteristics composed of single-walled carbon nanotube networks assembled on elastomeric films
NPG Asia Materials
title Ultrathin skin-conformable electrodes with high water vapor permeability and stretchability characteristics composed of single-walled carbon nanotube networks assembled on elastomeric films
title_full Ultrathin skin-conformable electrodes with high water vapor permeability and stretchability characteristics composed of single-walled carbon nanotube networks assembled on elastomeric films
title_fullStr Ultrathin skin-conformable electrodes with high water vapor permeability and stretchability characteristics composed of single-walled carbon nanotube networks assembled on elastomeric films
title_full_unstemmed Ultrathin skin-conformable electrodes with high water vapor permeability and stretchability characteristics composed of single-walled carbon nanotube networks assembled on elastomeric films
title_short Ultrathin skin-conformable electrodes with high water vapor permeability and stretchability characteristics composed of single-walled carbon nanotube networks assembled on elastomeric films
title_sort ultrathin skin conformable electrodes with high water vapor permeability and stretchability characteristics composed of single walled carbon nanotube networks assembled on elastomeric films
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41427-024-00553-9
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