Behavior of Polymer Electrode PEDOT:PSS/Graphene on Flexible Substrate for Wearable Biosensor at Different Loading Modes

Nanomaterials (Basel). 2024 Aug 17;14(16):1357. doi: 10.3390/nano14161357.

Abstract

In recent years, flexible and wearable biosensor technologies have gained significant attention due to their potential to revolutionize healthcare monitoring. Among the various components involved in these biosensors, the electrode material plays a crucial role in ensuring accurate and reliable detection. In this regard, polymer electrodes, such as Poly(3,4 ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate), combined with graphene (PEDOT:PSS/graphene), have emerged as promising candidates due to their unique mechanical properties and excellent electrical conductivity. Understanding the mechanical behavior of these polymer electrodes on flexible substrates is essential to ensure the stability and durability of wearable biosensors. In this paper, PEDOT:PSS/graphene composite was spray-coated on flexible substrates at different growth conditions to explore the effect of the deposition parameters and mode of mechanical loading (longitudinal or transversal) on the electrical and mechanical behavior of the fabricated samples. It was found that the coating grown at lower temperatures and higher spraying pressure exhibited stable behavior no matter the applied stress type.

Keywords: PEDOT:PSS/graphene; flexible electronics; polymer electrode; wearable biosensors.