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

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a new hydrogel-based EEG electrode that is flexible, comfortable, and performs as well as traditional electrodes.

## Contribution

A novel hydrogel electrode with surfactant-reorganized PEDOT:PSS is developed for improved EEG performance and comfort.

## Key findings

- The electrode has a modulus comparable to soft human tissue and strong interfacial adhesion.
- It significantly reduces skin-electrode contact impedance and matches commercial electrodes in signal power.
- The structural rearrangement of PEDOT:PSS was confirmed through morphological analyses.

## 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.