Electrically conductive material and production method therefor, and electrode for living body
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conductive fibers with PEDOT-PSS have high resistance values due to sparse polymer application, leading to increased noise when used as electrodes, and existing methods fail to apply conductive polymers uniformly, limiting their conductivity and accuracy in biopotential measurements.
Innovation Solution
The use of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-p-toluenesulfonate (PEDOT-pTS) applied uniformly to a silk fiber base through a chemical polymerization method, which reduces electrical resistance and enhances conductivity, allowing for more accurate biopotential measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If PEDOT-PSS is applied to base fiber using electrolytic polymerization method, then the conductive fiber can be produced with flexibility and water resistance, but the polymer is sparsely applied resulting in high resistance value and increased noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the polymerization method from electrolytic to chemical polymerization, and switches from PEDOT-PSS to PEDOT-pTS polymer. This parameter change enables uniform polymer application on the fiber surface, significantly reducing electrical resistance from high values to 100Ω/cm or less, thereby improving both reliability and measurement precision simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electrolytic polymerization process with chemical polymerization using p-toluenesulfonate (pTS) as dopant. This substitution eliminates the sparse application problem inherent in electrolytic methods and achieves dense, uniform polymer coating that reduces noise and improves biopotential measurement accuracy
2Reliability
If PEDOT-PSS is applied uniformly to base fiber, then electrical resistance is reduced, but existing methods fail to achieve uniform application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the polymerization approach from electrolytic to chemical polymerization with pTS dopant, which inherently provides uniform polymer distribution. This parameter change achieves both high electrical conductivity and manufacturing precision in polymer application uniformity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses chemical polymerization with p-toluenesulfonate dopant to achieve homogeneous polymer distribution on the fiber surface. The chemical method ensures uniform penetration and deposition of PEDOT-pTS throughout the fiber structure, eliminating the sparse and non-uniform application characteristic of electrolytic methods
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method achieves a significant reduction in electrical resistance, reducing noise and improving the accuracy of biopotential measurements, making the conductive material suitable for use as a bioelectrode with enhanced durability and biocompatibility.
Implementation Method 1
a chemical polymerization method, which reduces electrical resistance and enhances conductivity
Data Source
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Figure 5A~6D
AI summary
The present invention provides an electrically conductive material including a base and a conductive polymer applied uniformly to the base's surface and having a reduced resistance value. Specifically, the electrically conductive material includes PEDOT-pTS, serving as a conductive polymer, applied to the base comprised mostly of silk. The invention also provides a method for producing the electrically conductive material, and a bioelectrode including it. The method includes the steps of: (1) applying a p-toluenesulfonate (pTS) solution containing an oxidant component and pTS to a base selected from the group consisting of a silk fiber, a fiber containing sericin or fibroin, and a fiber coated or soaked with sericin or fibroin; and (2) further applying 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) to the base that already has the oxidant component and pTS applied thereto through the step (1), thereby triggering, at the base, a polymerization reaction to form poly(3,4-ethylene-dioxythiophene)-p-toluenesulfonate (PEDOT-pTS) and applying the formed PEDOT-pTS to the base.