| dc.description.abstract | In medical applications, there is a great interest in using wearable health
monitoring systems to obtain physiological information because they are non-invasive
and easy to use. Furthermore, the advancement of technology has allowed these
electronics to be miniaturized. However, some wearable devices are still uncomfortable
and rigid. To combat this, a new set of thin, soft, flexible skin-like electronics needs to be
developed, which can significantly improve user comfort and the quality of signals. The
objectives of this study were to characterize inkjet-printed skin-like electronics by
optimizing inkjet printing parameters and surface energies of PI coated surface, which
determine the drop size of silver nanoparticle (AgNP) inks. The optimal printing
parameters were found the jetting voltage of 17 V with a drop spacing of 20 Âμm in the
room temperature of 28°C. The PI coated surfaces were treated using carbon
tetrafluoride (CF4) and oxygen gas (O2) to determine the degrees of hydrophobicity and
hydrophilicity. Water contact angle measurements on PI substrates demonstrated 7.80°,
7.70°, and 7.20° for 30-second, 60-second, and 120-second O2 treatments,
respectively and 78.4°, 88.6°, and 102.9° for 10-minute, 30-minute, and 60-minute
CF4 treatments, respectively. Corresponding widths of inkjet-printed lines were 63.0
Âμm, 44.5 Âμm, and 41.7 Âμm for 10-minute, 30-minute, and 60-minute CF4
treatments, respectively. Finally, we were able to successfully inkjet-printed stretchable
electrodes with 60-minute CF4 treatment, which is constructed with 60 Âμm line width
for serpentine interconnects and 1 cm diameter of circular disks. In addition, inkjetprinted
ultrathin stretchable electrodes were used to measure biopotentials to compare
with biopotentials measured using traditional methods. Overall, creating a thinner, more
comfortable, and cost-efficient inkjet-printed electrode for physiological signal
monitoring can help improve the future of wearable technology and human performance. | |
