Electrospun Conductive Composites with Anisotropic Microstructures and Tunable Mechanical Properties for Wearable Bioelectronics

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new flexible material with adjustable mechanical properties and stable conductivity for use in wearable bioelectronics.

Contribution

The novel contribution is a composite material with tunable anisotropic mechanical properties and stable electrical conductivity for wearable electronics.

Findings

The composite material's mechanical properties can be adjusted from isotropic to anisotropic.

The material was used to create a flexible dry electrode with high ECG signal quality.

It successfully monitored various hand gestures through electromyographic signals.

Abstract

This study seeks to resolve the critical yet often conflicting demands for electrical stability and mechanical tunability in flexible materials for wearable electronics. A composite conductive material was prepared based on the combination of electrospun fiber networks with tunable orientation and ion-gel phase. Through structural regulation, we achieved the designed adjustment of mechanical properties from isotropic to anisotropic while maintaining stable electrical conductivity. By adjusting the fiber orientation, Young’s modulus can be tailored to span a broad range. The fabricated composite membrane was processed into a flexible dry electrode and used for electrocardiogram (ECG) signal acquisition, achieving a high signal-to-noise ratio and stable waveform characteristics. Additionally, it can reliably monitor electromyographic signals from various static and dynamic hand gestures, including clenching, unclenching, and thumbs-up motions. This work provides a viable way to design materials and construct structures for multifunctional wearable electronic devices.

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