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. 2023 Sep 6;15(18):3665.
doi: 10.3390/polym15183665.

Washable and Flexible Screen-Printed Ag/AgCl Electrode on Textiles for ECG Monitoring

Huating Tu  1   2 , Xiaoou Li  1 , Xiangde Lin  1 , Chenhong Lang  2 , Yang Gao  3   4
Affiliations

Washable and Flexible Screen-Printed Ag/AgCl Electrode on Textiles for ECG Monitoring

Huating Tu et al. Polymers (Basel). .

Abstract

Electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes are important sensors for detecting heart disease whose performance determines the validity and accuracy of the collected original ECG signals. Due to the large drawbacks (e.g., allergy, shelf life) of traditional commercial gel electrodes, textile electrodes receive widespread attention for their excellent comfortability and breathability. This work demonstrated a dry electrode for ECG monitoring fabricated by screen printing silver/silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) conductive ink on ordinary polyester fabric. The results show that the screen-printed textile electrodes have good and stable electrical and electrochemical properties and excellent ECG signal acquisition performance. Furthermore, the resistance of the screen-printed textile electrode is maintained within 0.5 Ω/cm after 5000 bending cycles or 20 washing and drying cycles, exhibiting excellent flexibility and durability. This research provides favorable support for the design and preparation of flexible and wearable electrophysiological sensing platforms.

Keywords: Ag/AgCl conductive ink; electrocardiography; screen printing; textiles electrode.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Diagram of ECG monitoring with textile electrodes.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Preparation process of textile electrode. (a) Schematic diagram of screen-printing process (A-conductive ink, B-squeegee, C-screen, D-pattern to be printed, E-screen frame); (b) screen printing machine; (c) photo of the fabricated textile electrode.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The SEM images of printed textile electrode: (a) boundary of the printing lay with a magnification of 50 times; (b) cross-sectional morphology of the printed lay with a magnification of 100 times.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The surface SEM images of printed textile electrode (a) magnified by 500 times; (b) magnified by 3000 times.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The schematic diagram of electrochemical performance test.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Standard second lead (II) ECG monitoring system.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Photograph of ECG signal-acquisition process. (a) electrocardiogram waveforms displayed by an electrocardiograph, (b) textile electrode, (c) electrocardiographic monitoring for an adult.
Figure 8
Figure 8
(a) Open circuit voltage; (b) cyclic voltammetry characteristics.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy mode: (a) Bode; (b) Nyquist.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Resistance of the textile electrodes (a) during 5000 bending cycles; (b) during 20 washing cycles (thermostatic water bath).
Figure 11
Figure 11
The surface SEM images of printed textile electrode (magnified by 1000 times): (a) the original electrode; (b) after bending for 5000 cycles; (c) after washing for 20 cycles.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Original data collected from ECG Signal Simulator.
Figure 13
Figure 13
Original data collected from textile electrode.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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