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Highly conductive, stretchable and biocompatible Ag–Au core–sheath nanowire composite for wearable and implantable bioelectronics

Nature Nanotechnology volume 13, pages 1048–1056 (2018)Cite this article

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Abstract

Wearable and implantable devices require conductive, stretchable and biocompatible materials. However, obtaining composites that simultaneously fulfil these requirements is challenging due to a trade-off between conductivity and stretchability. Here, we report on Ag–Au nanocomposites composed of ultralong gold-coated silver nanowires in an elastomeric block-copolymer matrix. Owing to the high aspect ratio and percolation network of the Ag–Au nanowires, the nanocomposites exhibit an optimized conductivity of 41,850 S cm−1 (maximum of 72,600 S cm−1). Phase separation in the Ag–Au nanocomposite during the solvent-drying process generates a microstructure that yields an optimized stretchability of 266% (maximum of 840%). The thick gold sheath deposited on the silver nanowire surface prevents oxidation and silver ion leaching, making the composite biocompatible and highly conductive. Using the nanocomposite, we successfully fabricate wearable and implantable soft bioelectronic devices that can be conformally integrated with human skin and swine heart for continuous electrophysiological recording, and electrical and thermal stimulation.

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Fig. 1: Fabrication of microstructured Ag–Au nanocomposite.
Fig. 2: Characterization and oxidation resistance of the Ag–Au nanowire.
Fig. 3: Effect of phase separation on electrical and mechanical properties.
Fig. 4: Biocompatibility of Ag–Au nanocomposite in vitro and in vivo.
Fig. 5: Wearable skin-like bioelectronics using the Ag–Au nanocomposite.
Fig. 6: Ag–Au nanocomposite-based implantable cardiac mesh for monitoring and stimulating swine heart in vivo.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Institute for Basic Science (grant numbers IBS-R006-D1 and IBS-R006-A1). The authors thank the staff of the National Center for Inter-university Research Facilities (NCIRF) and the Research Institute of Advanced Materials (RIAM) in Seoul National University. The authors also thank M. Josephson for material and intellectual support of the animal research.

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  1. These authors contributed equally: Suji Choi, Sang Ihn Han, Dongjun Jung, Hye Jin Hwang.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Suji Choi, Sang Ihn Han, Dongjun Jung, Chaehong Lim, Ok Kyu Park, Mincheol Lee, Taeghwan Hyeon & Dae-Hyeong Kim

  2. School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Suji Choi, Sang Ihn Han, Dongjun Jung, Chaehong Lim, Ok Kyu Park, Mincheol Lee, Ji Woong Yu, Ji Ho Ryu, Won Bo Lee, Taeghwan Hyeon & Dae-Hyeong Kim

  3. Cardiovascular Division, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Hye Jin Hwang, Soochan Bae, Cory M. Tschabrunn, Sun Youn Bae, Peter M. Kang & Reza Nezafat

  4. Department of Physiology, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Sang-Woo Lee & Kyungpyo Park

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Contributions

S.C., S.I.H., D.J., H.J.H., T.H. and D.-H.K. designed the experiments. S.C., S.I.H., D.J., C.L., M.L., H.J.H., T.H. and D.-H.K. performed experiments and analysis. S.C., S.I.H., D.J., H.J.H., C.L., S.B., O.K.P., C.M.T., S.Y.B., S.-W.L., K.P., P.M.K. and R.N. performed in vivo animal experiments and data analysis. S.I.H., S.-W.L. and K.P. performed in vitro experiments and analysis. J.W.Y., J.H.R. and W.B.L. performed computer simulations. S.C., S.I.H., D.J., H.J.H., S.B., T.H. and D.-H.K. wrote the paper.

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Correspondence to Taeghwan Hyeon or Dae-Hyeong Kim.

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Supplementary information

Supplementary Information

Supplementary figures 1–15, Supplementary References

Supplementary Video

The heat rolling-pressed Ag–Au nanocomposite was stretched to 200%, 400% and 840%

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Choi, S., Han, S.I., Jung, D. et al. Highly conductive, stretchable and biocompatible Ag–Au core–sheath nanowire composite for wearable and implantable bioelectronics. Nature Nanotech 13, 1048–1056 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-018-0226-8

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