An Assistant Professor at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics (LOE) at Linköping University, Xenofon Strakosas, says that the method, which can also be used to fabricate electrodes on glass and human skin, is simple and does not require any expensive equipment.
Since the water-soluble monomers used in the process can be polymerised using visible light, the creation of electrodes no longer requires toxic chemicals, harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation or additional processing steps.
Using the process, a solution containing the monomers is placed on a surface. By running a laser or another light source across the material, researchers can form electrodes in detailed patterns exactly where they are needed. Any portion of the solution that does not undergo polymerisation can be washed away, leaving the finished electrodes behind.
A researcher at LOE, Tobias Abrahamsson, says: "As the material can transport both electrons and ions, it can communicate with the body in a natural way, and its gentle chemistry ensures that tissue tolerates it; a combination that is crucial for medical applications."
The researchers have tested the technology by depositing electrodes directly onto the skin of anaesthetised mice. The results show a clear improvement in the recording of low-frequency brain activity compared with traditional metal electrodes.
Abrahamsson concludes: “As the method works on many different surfaces, you can also imagine sensors built into garments. In addition, the method could be used for large-scale manufacture of organic electronic circuits, without dangerous solvents.”