Journal of Sensor Science and Technology (센서학회지)

The Korean Sensors Society (한국센서학회)
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Ionic Passivation and Oxidation Dynamics for Enhanced Viability of Copper-Based On-Skin Bioelectrodes in Biological Environments

  • 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 : 2023.11.28
  • Published : 2023.11.30
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Abstract

The integration of bioelectronic devices with the skin is a promising strategy for personalized healthcare monitoring and diagnostics. On-skin bioelectrodes hold great potential for the real-time tracking of physiological parameters. However, persistent challenges of stability and reliability have instigated exploration beyond conventional noble metals. This study focuses on the ionic passivation and oxidation dynamics of copper-based on-skin thin-film bioelectrodes. Through parylene chemical vapor deposition, we harness a controlled thin film of parylene insulation to counter the intrinsic susceptibility of copper to oxidation in the ionic environment. The results represent the relationship among the parylene insulation thickness, copper oxidation, and electrode impedance over temporal intervals. Comparative analyses indicate that the short-term stability of the copper electrode is comparable to that of the gold electrode. Therefore, we propose a cost-effective strategy for fabricating copper-based on-skin bioelectrodes by introducing enhanced ionic stability within a discernible operational timeframe. This study enriches our understanding of on-skin bioelectronics and affordable material choices for practical use in wearable healthcare devices.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

J. Lee conceived the idea and designed the experiments. J. Lee, G. Yun, J. Jeon, and P.T.Le. performed experiments and analyzed the data. J. Lee and G. Lim wrote the manuscript. G. Lim supervised this project. This work is 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), the NRF grant funded by the Korean government (MSIT; No. NRF-2020R1I1A3074228).

References

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