Gold-based electronics can now be made very soft and flexible
The pliability of tissue and the stiffness of most electronics are usually incompatible. Researchers at Linköping University have managed to combine the two, by creating extremely thin and soft gold electrodes which can be used to study and stimulate the activity of nerves.
Nerve signals are electrical impulses, which can be detected using metal electrodes. However, traditional electrodes are not very flexible, which means they can cause damage to nerve tissue if they are implanted.
The research team at Linköping University has now developed a new type of electrode that is both flexible and highly conductive. The key to their success is the use of gold nanowires. Gold is usually a hard, rigid metal, but when it is made into nanowires, it becomes very soft and pliable.
The researchers used a chemical process to grow gold nanowires on a thin film of plastic. The resulting material is extremely thin and flexible, yet it is still highly conductive. This makes it ideal for use as an electrode in neural interfaces.
The researchers have tested their new electrodes in experiments with rats, and they have found that they can be used to detect and stimulate nerve signals without causing any damage to the tissue. This opens up the possibility of using gold-based electronics to develop new treatments for neurological disorders.
In conclusion, the development of soft and flexible gold electrodes is a significant advancement in the field of neural engineering. These electrodes could enable the creation of new treatments for neurological disorders, and they could also be used in other applications, such as soft robotics and wearable sensors.
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