Adaptive Epidermal Bioelectronics by Highly Breathable and Stretchable Metal Nanowire Bioelectrodes on Electrospun Nanofiber Membrane

Abstract

AbstractThe potential of the electrospun nanofiber membrane (ENM)‐based soft electronics in epidermal bioelectronics has gained huge attention with their conformal compatibility with the human body and associated performance improvements. This study presents a novel filtration‐based direct local nanowire patterning method on the ENM using dispenser systems, aiming to fabricate stretchable, breathable, and highly conductive epidermal electronics harnessing various types of metal nanowires, including Ag, Ag@Au core–shell, and Ag@(Au–Pt) core–shell nanowires. By utilizing capillary force from a support bed beneath the ENM, efficient fluid flow can be achieved, eliminating the requirement for expensive vacuum equipment typically employed in filtration processes. In the postprocessing phase, the photothermal effect of a laser is harnessed to improve the mechanical stability of the nanowire–ENM interface. The maskless fabrication process is instrumental in crafting epidermal bioelectronics in that the design can be spontaneously replicated according to diverse human body geometries in situ. The selective insulation process can be also executed with the same dispenser system, streamlining the overall fabrication system. Applications are demonstrated showcasing the advantages of the presented fabrication system and the resulting devices, including an in vivo epicardial signal recording electrode, an epidermal electrochemical biosensor, and a customized epidermal electromyography (EMG)‐based human–machine interface (HMI).