3D printing with metal free flexible adhesive electrodes

Tech 2023-06-20 08:51:28 Source: Network

Science and Technology Daily, Beijing, June 19 (Reporter Zhang Jiaxin) According to the latest issue of Nature Materials, an international team led by Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States has developed a kind of metal free jelly like material, which is as soft and tough as biological tissue, and can conduct electricity as traditional metals. This material can be made into printing ink, which may one day become a functional gel based electrode, and has the appearance and feel of biological tissue

Science and Technology Daily, Beijing, June 19 (Reporter Zhang Jiaxin) According to the latest issue of Nature Materials, an international team led by Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States has developed a kind of metal free jelly like material, which is as soft and tough as biological tissue, and can conduct electricity as traditional metals. This material can be made into printing ink, which may one day become a functional gel based electrode, and has the appearance and feel of biological tissue.

Researchers suggest that colloidal electrodes may replace metals to stimulate nerves and connect to the heart, brain, and other organs in the body.

Researchers hope that the combination of conductive polymer and hydrogel will produce a flexible, biocompatible and conductive gel. But the materials manufactured so far are either too fragile or have poor electrical performance. In order to maintain the electrical and mechanical strength of conductive polymers and hydrogels respectively, the two components should be mixed in a slightly repulsive manner, which is called phase separation. In this slightly separated state, each component can connect their respective polymers to form slender micro chains, and can also be mixed as a whole.

Researchers refer to it as "spaghetti" with electrical and mechanical properties. Among them, "electrical spaghetti" is a conductive polymer that can transmit current through materials; The "mechanical spaghetti" is hydrogel, which can transfer mechanical force, and because it is also continuous, it is very tough and elastic.

The researchers adjusted the formula, boiled the "spaghetti" into ink, input it through a 3D printer, and printed it on the pure water gel film, with a pattern similar to the traditional metal electrode.

Researchers implanted printed jelly shaped electrodes into the heart, sciatic nerve, and spinal cord of rats. After testing on animals for up to two months, these devices remained stable and almost did not cause inflammation or scarring of surrounding tissues. Electrodes can also transmit electrical pulses from the heart to external monitors, and transmit small pulses to the sciatic nerve and spinal cord, thereby stimulating the movement of related muscles and limbs.

Researchers envision that in the future, this new material can be applied to the recovery of patients undergoing cardiac surgery, serving as a soft electronic interface between organs and long-term implants, including pacemakers and deep brain stimulators.

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