Fabrication of GNR Electrode for ECG Signal Acquisition

Abstract

The graphine nanoribbon (GNR) electrode was fabricated using composite polyvinyl alchohol–GNR (PVA/GNR) for real time elctrocardiogram (ECG) signal acquisition to analyze function of the Heart. The GNR electrode was fabricated by incorporating different quantities of GNR into polyvinylalcohol (PVA) polymer matrix on Ag/AgCl electrode surface. The developed GNR electrode was characterized by high resolution-transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, and Raman spectroscopy. Further, the ECG system was designed using Arduino and Ad8232 sensor to acquire the ECG signal. The developed GNR electrode has constant impedance of 250KΩ over the frequency range 10Hz–1KHz.The designed GNR electrode was used to acquire real time ECG signal. This letter established that the GNR electrode with 1% GNR in PVA matrix was ideal for the ECG signal acquisition system. The results showed that the designed ECG system was efficient to acquire a real time ECG signal using the GNR electrode with nominal signal to noise ratio and R–R peak separation. The GNR electrode demonstrated the high sensitivity to measure the ECG signal. The developed ECG system showed better performance compared to the Ag/AgCl electrode and also with the GNR electrode. A week-long continuous wearability test showed no deprivation in the ECG signal quality over time and does not lead to any skin irritation.