Abrasion-resistant on-skin electrodes by high-toughness and skin-conformable elastomeric substrates

Abstract Ultrathin, skin-conformal electrodes provide a secure, comfortable fit and enable continuous electrophysiological monitoring in daily lives. However, friction-induced damage from contact with skin or clothing made daily use difficult. Here, we demonstrate a facile fabrication of ultrathin on-skin electrodes robust against repeated mechanical friction. We identified that the mechanical toughness and skin-comformability are the key to realizing the high abrasion resistance to accommodate repeated deformation and redistribute frictional stresses. The abrasion-resistant skin-electrode was fabricated with a stretchable gold layer, and the feasibility was confirmed by the reliable acquisition of various electrophysiological signals.