Researchers at Penn State, led by chemical engineering professor Enrique Gomez, have developed a stretchy plastic that can conduct electricity, which may help power future implantable medical devices such as longer-lasting pacemakers and glucose monitors.
The material, called PEDOT:PSS, is commonly used in soft robotics and touchscreens. Scientists discovered that adding specific salts and water allows the plastic to form tiny whisker-like fibers that significantly improve its electrical conductivity.
Unlike conventional electronics that use electron flow through metals, the human body uses ionic currents. PEDOT:PSS is unique because it can conduct electrons while also interacting with the body’s ionic signals, making it ideal for bioelectronic devices.
To understand how the material works, researchers used cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM), a powerful imaging technique that allows scientists to study materials at extremely high resolution. They froze tiny samples of the material at –180°C and analyzed how different salt additives affected its structure.
The study revealed that salt additives increase the number of conductive fibers inside the plastic, improving its conductivity. Water also plays a key role by softening the material and making it more stretchable. Lithium salts further enhance this effect by increasing water absorption.
Importantly, the plastic maintains stable electrical conductivity even when it becomes soft and stretchy, making it suitable for devices that interact with biological tissues.
The researchers plan to continue studying how salts influence fiber formation in the material. A better understanding could lead to improved biomedical technologies such as pacemakers, skin sensors, and electromyography devices used to monitor nerve and muscle activity.
source : The Penn State University
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