Visible‐Light‐Driven Aqueous Polymerization Enables in Situ Formation of Biocompatible, High‐Performance Organic Mixed Conductors for Bioelectronics

T Tobias Abrahamsson (Laboratory of Organic Electronics Department of Science and Technology Linköping University Norrköping SE‐601 74 Sweden) F Fredrik Ek R Rémy Cornuéjols (Laboratory of Organic Electronics Department of Science and Technology Linköping University Norrköping SE‐601 74 Sweden) D Donghak Byun M Marios Savvakis (Laboratory of Organic Electronics Department of Science and Technology Linköping University Norrköping SE‐601 74 Sweden) C Cecilia Bruschi (Laboratory of Organic Electronics Department of Science and Technology Linköping University Norrköping SE‐601 74 Sweden) I Ihor Sahalianov E Eva Miglbauer (Laboratory of Organic Electronics Department of Science and Technology Linköping University Norrköping SE‐601 74 Sweden) C Chiara Musumeci M Mary J. Donahue (Laboratory of Organic Electronics Department of Science and Technology Linköping University Norrköping SE‐601 74 Sweden) I Ioannis Petsagkourakis (Division of Digital Systems, Department of Smart Hardware, Unit of Bio‐and‐Organic Electronics RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB Norrköping SE‐602 33 Sweden) M Maciej Gryszel (Laboratory of Organic Electronics Department of Science and Technology Linköping University Norrköping SE‐601 74 Sweden) M Martin Hjort J Jennifer Y. Gerasimov (Laboratory of Organic Electronics Department of Science and Technology Linköping University Norrköping SE‐601 74 Sweden) G Glib Baryshnikov (Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Department of Science and Technology) R Renee Kroon (Laboratory of Organic Electronics Department of Science and Technology Linköping University Norrköping SE‐601 74 Sweden) D Daniel T. Simon M Magnus Berggren I Ilke Uguz (Department of Biomedical Engineering Stevens Institute of Technology New Jersey NJ 07030 USA) R Roger Olsson X Xenofon Strakosas (Laboratory of Organic Electronics Department of Science and Technology Linköping University Norrköping SE‐601 74 Sweden)

Abstract

Abstract Polymer‐based organic mixed ion‐electron conductors (OMIECs) are a class of materials offering unique coupled dual charge transport characteristics along with appealing properties including mechanical softness, biocompatibility, tunability, volumetric capacitance, and stability. These features have been exploited in devices including organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), neuromorphic computing, energy storage, sensors, neural electrodes, and actuators. Conventionally, OMIEC polymers are prepared through chemical, vapor‐phase, electrochemical, or enzymatic polymerization, typically relying on oxidants, metal catalysts, and/or organic solvents, significantly limiting their scalability, sustainability, and biocompatibility. Here, we introduce an initiator‐free, visible‐light‐induced polymerization of water‐soluble conducting polymer precursors, enabling facile formation of high‐performance and inherently biocompatible OMIECs. This novel approach allows direct photopatterning and seamless film deposition and manufacturing of OECTs across rigid, flexible, and biological substrates, exemplified by glass, textiles, and mouse skin (in vivo). Through careful optimization of the photopolymerization process, resulting OMIECs possess state‐of‐the‐art electrical, electrochemical, and device properties along with exceptional compatibility and conformability with various flexible and biological surfaces. Finally, we demonstrate the utility of these photopatterned electrodes, manufactured directly on mouse skin in vivo, where they significantly enhance the recording efficacy and signal‐to‐noise ratio of low‐frequency brain activity in anesthetized mice.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 2
Published January 09, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (21)

T

Tobias Abrahamsson

Laboratory of Organic Electronics Department of Science and Technology Linköping University Norrköping SE‐601 74 Sweden

F

Fredrik Ek

R

Rémy Cornuéjols

Laboratory of Organic Electronics Department of Science and Technology Linköping University Norrköping SE‐601 74 Sweden

D

Donghak Byun

M

Marios Savvakis

Laboratory of Organic Electronics Department of Science and Technology Linköping University Norrköping SE‐601 74 Sweden

C

Cecilia Bruschi

Laboratory of Organic Electronics Department of Science and Technology Linköping University Norrköping SE‐601 74 Sweden

I

Ihor Sahalianov

E

Eva Miglbauer

Laboratory of Organic Electronics Department of Science and Technology Linköping University Norrköping SE‐601 74 Sweden

C

Chiara Musumeci

M

Mary J. Donahue

Laboratory of Organic Electronics Department of Science and Technology Linköping University Norrköping SE‐601 74 Sweden

I

Ioannis Petsagkourakis

Division of Digital Systems, Department of Smart Hardware, Unit of Bio‐and‐Organic Electronics RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB Norrköping SE‐602 33 Sweden

M

Maciej Gryszel

Laboratory of Organic Electronics Department of Science and Technology Linköping University Norrköping SE‐601 74 Sweden

M

Martin Hjort

J

Jennifer Y. Gerasimov

Laboratory of Organic Electronics Department of Science and Technology Linköping University Norrköping SE‐601 74 Sweden

G

Glib Baryshnikov

Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Department of Science and Technology

R

Renee Kroon

Laboratory of Organic Electronics Department of Science and Technology Linköping University Norrköping SE‐601 74 Sweden

D

Daniel T. Simon

M

Magnus Berggren

I

Ilke Uguz

Department of Biomedical Engineering Stevens Institute of Technology New Jersey NJ 07030 USA

R

Roger Olsson

X

Xenofon Strakosas

Laboratory of Organic Electronics Department of Science and Technology Linköping University Norrköping SE‐601 74 Sweden