Journal of Sensor Science and Technology (센서학회지)

The Korean Sensors Society (한국센서학회)
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Engineered Stretchability of Conformal Parylene Thin-film On-skin Electronics

  • Jungho Lee (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology) ;
  • Gaeun Yun (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology) ;
  • Juhyeong Jeon (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology) ;
  • Phuong Thao Le (School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology) ;
  • Seung Whan Kim (Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University) ;
  • Geunbae Lim (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology)
  • Received : 2023.11.03
  • Accepted : 2023.11.20
  • Published : 2023.11.30
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Abstract

Skin-compatible electronics have evolved to achieve both conformality and stretchability for stable contact with deformable biological skin. While existing research has largely concentrated on alternative materials, the potential of Parylene-based thin-film electrodes for stretchable on-skin applications remains relatively untapped. This study proposes an engineering strategy to achieve stretchability using the Parylene thin-film electrode. Unlike the conventional Parylene thin-film electrode, we introduce morphological adaptability via controlled microscale slits in the Parylene electrode structure. The slits-containing device enables unprecedented stretchability while maintaining critical electrical insulation properties during mechanical deformation. Finally, the demonstration on human skin shows the mechanical adaptability of these Parylene-based bioelectrodes while their electrical characteristics remain stable during various stretching conditions. Owing to the ultra-thinness of the Parylene coating, the wearable bioelectrode not only achieves stretchability but also conforms to the skin. Our findings broaden the practical use of Parylene thin-film bioelectrodes.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

J. Lee conceived the idea and designed the experiments. J. Lee, G. Yun, J. Jeon, and P.T.L performed the experiment and analyzed the data. J. Lee, G. Yun, J. Jeon, P.T.L, T.S.H, S.W.K, and G. Lim wrote the manuscript. G. Lim supervised this project. This work was financially supported by the National R&D Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (2020M3H4A1A02084830), and the NRF grant funded by the Korean government (MSIT; No. NRF2020R1I1A3074228).

References

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