en 
Wechat QRcode
Hotline:0755-22277778
Tel：0755-22277778
Mobile：13826586185（Mr.Duan）
Fax：0755-22277776
E-mail：duanlian@xianjinyuan.cn
Bioelectrodes, Interface Engineering, and Material Selection
In clinical electrocardiogram monitoring and wearable device testing, engineers often encounter a confusing phenomenon: when the same batch of electrodes are attached to different testers, the quality of the collected signals may differ by an order of magnitude.
The problem is not with the electrode itself, but withInterface between electrodes and skin.
�� Core proposition:Bioelectric signals - the amplitude of electrocardiogram is only in the millivolt range, and electroencephalography is in the microvolt range - undergo "loss" through multiple media such as the stratum corneum, sweat, and sebum during the process of transmission from human tissues to electrodes.Contact impedance of electrode skin interfaceIt is the first level that determines signal quality. If the impedance is too high, weak signals will be drowned out by noise, and common mode interference and motion artifacts will be amplified accordingly. This interface engineering problem, which is often overlooked by many, is the core proposition of bioelectrode technology.
A bioelectrode is a transducer device that converts ion current in a living organism into electronic current in an electronic circuit. It is neither a simple conductor nor a simple sensor - it is the "translator" connecting living organisms and electronic systems, responsible for translating the bioelectric signals generated by heart beats, neuron discharges, and muscle contractions into language that electronic devices can understand and process.
Efficient conduction of biological potential, low resistance, and low noise.
Maintain stable electrode potential in the surface/body environment without polarization drift.
Non toxic, non irritating, and does not trigger immune rejection.
Realize mechanical matching with soft biological tissues to avoid "hard hitting".
At present, the silver/silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) wet electrode widely used in clinic relies on conductive gel as the skin coupling medium. Although this scheme is mature, it has three major congenital defects: the conductive adhesive is prone to drying up over time, and the signal quality continues to deteriorate; The ingredients of gel may irritate the skin and are not suitable for long-term continuous monitoring; Poor breathability can easily cause skin discomfort.
Flexible dry electrodeIt is becoming a recognized technological direction in the industry. The dry electrode does not need conductive gel, and can directly contact with the skin to collect signals. It has the core advantages of non irritation, long-term wear, signal stability, etc. In the global medical bioelectric electrode market by 2025, Ag/AgCl wet electrodes still account for 62% of the market share, but the shipment growth rate of dry electrodes and microneedle array electrodes has reached16.7%It is gradually replacing traditional products.
The substrate of a bioelectrode determines its mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and processing feasibility. The requirements for substrates vary greatly in different application scenarios.
The water absorption rate is less than 0.1%, the cell survival rate is greater than 95%, and the stiffness is only 1/11 of traditional electrodes. Suitable for flexible electrodes in brain computer interfaces and implantable neural electrodes.
Excellent biocompatibility, chemical stability, and mechanical properties, suitable for long-term implantable neural electrodes.
High temperature resistance and excellent mechanical properties, widely used in flexible circuit substrates and wearable electrodes.
Low cost, light transmittance>85%, suitable for disposable surface electrodes and blood glucose test strips.
Intrinsically stretchable and skin conforming, suitable for wearable dynamic monitoring electrodes.
| Base material | Key Features | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|
| LCP | Water absorption rate<0.1%,>95%, stiffness 1/11 | Brain computer interface flexible electrode, implantable neural electrode |
| PEEK | Excellent biocompatibility, chemical stability, and mechanical properties | Long term implantable neural electrodes |
| PI | High temperature resistance and excellent mechanical properties | Flexible circuit board, wearable electrode |
| PET/PEN | Low cost, light transmittance>85% | Disposable surface electrodes and blood glucose test strips |
| PDMS/TPU | Intrinsically stretchable, skin conformal fit | Wearable dynamic monitoring electrode |
Conductive coating is the "functional layer" of bioelectrodes - it directly determines the contact impedance, signal-to-noise ratio, and long-term stability of the electrode.
Classic system, excellent electrochemical stability, low polarization potential. Advanced Institute Technology provides a titanium plated Ag/AgCl solution with extremely low impedance between 10Hz and 10kHz, a 5B level adhesion to 100 grids, a peel strength of>0.8N/mm, and can withstand hundreds of thousands of bending cycles.
Extremely high chemical stability, excellent conductivity, and low contact resistance. Resistant to sweat corrosion, suitable for long-term wear; Provide a stable current transmission path in blood glucose monitoring.
The resistivity is as low as 1.65 μ Ω· cm. The sintered resistivity of YB8203 co fired platinum slurry from Yanbo brand is reduced by 21%, and the tensile strength is increased by 17%. XJY-YB-8840 biosensing slurry responds in milliseconds, simulating stable operation in body fluids for 3 months.
Emerging solutions such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, and PEDOT: PSS are becoming new choices for bioelectrodes, combining flexibility and electrochemical activity.
Electrocardiogram (ECG), electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG). Advanced Institute Technology provides PET/PI/PEEK/LCP substrates and coatings such as Ag/AgCl, Au, Pt, etc. ECG monitoring electrodes maintain the largest application area with a 45% share.
By 2025, the NeuroWorm flexible drivable nerve fiber electrode will have a diameter of only 196 μ m and a fiber coating of<23 μ m after 13 months of implantation. In 2026, China's first 128 channel fully implantable BCI system will initiate a multicenter clinical trial. Advanced Institute of Technology provides Peek
The global burden of diabetes continues to increase, and it is expected to exceed 783 million in 2045. The global glucose sensor market size is expected to reach 16.72 billion US dollars by 2025. Advanced Institute Technology PET platinum plated film combines mechanical properties and electrochemical characteristics.
Surface disposable → PET/PEN; Wearable → PI/elastomer; Implantable ->LCP/PEEK.
Conventional body surface → Ag/AgCl; Low impedance/long-term → Au/Pt; Blood glucose sensing → catalytic active materials such as Pt.
Advanced Institute Technology adopts online plasma activated low-temperature gradient magnetron sputtering and full vacuum dry process, meeting ISO10993 biocompatibility standards.
The essence of a bioelectrode is to establish a stable, low-noise, and biologically friendly signal channel between the organism and electronic systems. It is not a 'standard component' - different application scenarios have vastly different requirements for substrate, coating, impedance, flexibility, and biocompatibility. Understanding these differences and making the right engineering trade-offs between materials, processes, and applications is the key to moving bioelectrodes from being "usable" to being "easy to use".
From surface electrocardiogram monitoring to brain computer interfaces, from blood glucose test strips to implanted neural electrodes - bioelectrodes are bringing the collection of bioelectric signals from hospitals to homes, from static to dynamic, and from outside the body to inside the body. In this technological evolution, material selection and precision coating process have always been the core variables determining the upper limit of electrode performance.
www.xianjinyuan.cn/products.html
© 2026 Xianjin Yuan · Bioelectrode Technical Reference
Advanced Institute (Shenzhen) Technology Co., Ltd， © two thousand and twenty-onewww.xianjinyuan.cn. All Rights Reserved.Guangdong ICP No. 2021051947 sitemap
Español
Français
Português