Screen-printed flexible carbon electrodes for efficient neural impulse transmission

Abstract

Abstract The paper presents research on the electrical performance of carbon-based electrodes printed by screen printing technique. The electrodes are studied with respect to their potential application as conductors of neural impulses in the treatment of neural system disorders. Three types of carbon are considered, i.e. graphite, carbon black, and graphene. The electrodes of various dimensions were printed on thin Mylar-A PET foil from Micel Sp. z o.o., Poland. The electrical performance of the electrodes is verified on a single rectangular electrical impulse. The ability of each electrode to conduct the input impulse is reported. Also, the electrical properties are measured and correlated with the conductive characteristics. The results demonstrate that graphite- and carbon-black-based electrodes provide superior electrical signal transmission, whereas graphene electrodes underperform. This finding suggests directions for future research on neural printable interfaces using carbon.