Activatable Conformal Electrode Arrays for Highly Stable and Breathable 12‐Lead Clinical Electrocardiographic Monitoring

Abstract

AbstractIn clinical practices, ambulatory electrocardiography (ECG) signals are a significant index in early diagnosis of heart diseases. Commercial 12‐lead Holter monitors are widely used to evaluate the heartbeat over time. However, poor sweat‐proof adhesion, low water vapor transmittance, and wired connectivity of Holter monitors limit their popularization in wearable electronics. Herein, a facile, low‐cost, and scalable stretchable supramolecular material with activatable high adhesion is reported, which can be used to fabricate breathable on‐skin electrode arrays for stable 12‐lead ECG monitoring applications. In the proposed strategy, a supramolecular polymer network with various dynamic chemical bonds is obtained, resulting in the material exhibiting good stretchability. The introduction of tannic acid (TA) ensure high intrinsic adhesion at wet/dry skin surfaces. Moreover, the combination of poly (lipoic acid) and TA can realize alcohol‐activated high adhesion. Subsequently, electrode arrays are assembled using adhesive layers comprising supramolecular materials and a stretchable conductive Styrene Ethylene Butylene Styrene (SEBS)/Au layer. In addition, the micromesh structures obtained by laser scribing endowed the electrodes with good water/air permeability. Finally, the breathable on‐skin electrode arrays are combined with flexible ECG sensors for stable 12‐lead ECG monitoring.