The field of wearable and implantable bioelectronics is rapidly emerging for biological sensing, medical monitoring and treatment. Among the conducting polymers, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) stands out as a widely studied and commercially available material extensively employed in flexible bioelectronic applications. Nonetheless, PEDOT:PSS exhibits restricted stretchability, typically withstanding less than 10% strain, and its stability in aqueous environments is also limited. Furthermore, PSS is hygroscopic and acidic which, may contribute to the deterioration of electronic devices. Here we report on novel stretchable PEDOT-based electrodes, where PSS is replaced with a highly elastomeric, macromolecular dopant. Specifically, sulfonated polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-ran-butylene)-block-polystyrene (sSEBS) was used as a co-dopant to PEDOT in a chemical oxidative polymerisation of PEDOT with various ratios of sSEBS:EDOT. Successful sulfonation of SEBS and synthesis of PEDOT:sSEBS composites were confirmed by means of FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. PEDOT:sSEBS composites were processed into dispersions in chloroform and characterised by dynamic light scattering. The free-standing films of PEDOT:sSEBS were prepared and investigated for their mechanical properties and in situ resistance. The optimised mass ratio of PEDOT:sSEBS (1 : 2 mass : mass) produced films that were highly stable in aqueous solutions, with a conductivity of 0.15 ± 0.03 S cm⁻¹ and stretchability of greater than 100% elongation at break. Electromyography (EMG) using the fabricated films demonstrated an application of the PEDOT:sSEBS films in wearable bioelectronics. The produced PEDOT:sSEBS films overcome some of the important deficiencies of extensively utilised PEDOT:PSS.

中文翻译：

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掺杂弹性磺化 SEBS 的高拉伸性和水溶液稳定性聚（3,4-乙撑二氧噻吩）

可穿戴和植入式生物电子领域正在迅速兴起，用于生物传感、医疗监测和治疗。在导电聚合物中，聚（3,4-乙撑二氧噻吩）：聚（苯乙烯磺酸）（PEDOT：PSS）作为一种广泛研究和商业化的材料脱颖而出，广泛应用于柔性生物电子应用。尽管如此，PEDOT:PSS 的拉伸性有限，通常能承受小于 10% 的应变，并且其在水性环境中的稳定性也有限。此外，PSS 具有吸湿性和酸性，可能会导致电子设备劣化。在此，我们报告了新型可拉伸 PEDOT 电极，其中 PSS 被高弹性大分子掺杂剂取代。具体而言，磺化聚苯乙烯-嵌段-聚(乙烯-正丁烯)-嵌段-聚苯乙烯(sSEBS)被用作PEDOT的共掺杂剂，用于具有不同sSEBS:EDOT比例的PEDOT的化学氧化聚合。通过 FTIR 和拉曼光谱证实了 SEBS 的成功磺化和 PEDOT:sSEBS 复合材料的合成。 PEDOT:sSEBS 复合材料被加工成氯仿分散体，并通过动态光散射进行表征。制备了 PEDOT:sSEBS 自支撑薄膜并研究了其机械性能和原位抵抗力。 PEDOT:sSEBS 的优化质量比（1:2 质量:质量）产生的薄膜在水溶液中高度稳定，电导率为 0.15 ± 0.03 S cm ^-1，拉伸性大于 100% 断裂伸长率。使用所制造的薄膜进行肌电图 (EMG) 演示了 PEDOT:sSEBS 薄膜在可穿戴生物电子学中的应用。所生产的 PEDOT:sSEBS 薄膜克服了广泛使用的 PEDOT:PSS 的一些重要缺陷。