Optimizing Carbon Nanotube Dispersions for High-Performance Neural Interface Electrodes
Kristina D. Popovich1,2, Evgenia A. Kuznetsova1, Pavel N. Vasilevsky1, Alexander Yu. Gerasimenko1.2; 1Institute of Biomedical Systems National Research University of Electronic Technology Zelenograd, Moscow, Russia; 2Institute for Bionic Technologies and Engineering I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
Abstract
This study investigates the role of organic surfactants, sodium cholate (SC) and sodium deoxycholate (DOC), in optimizing the dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) for conductive coatings of neurointerfaces. The research, conducted at the National Research University of Electronic Technology (MIET) as part of a major scientific project, focuses on developing advanced materials for Russia's first domestically produced neurostimulator. The research involves assessing the impact of surfactant type and ultrasonic treatment duration on the homogeneity of dispersed media, using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and UV-visible spectroscopy. Results demonstrate that DOC significantly outperforms SC in achieving uniform SWCNT dispersion, with finer particle sizes (141.5 nm after 80 minutes of sonication) and higher scattering efficiency (86%). The superior performance of DOC is attributed to its enhanced hydrophobic interactions and electrostatic repulsion, which prevent nanotube aggregation.
Composite coatings deposited on titanium substrates exhibited markedly improved electrical conductivity, with DOC-based coatings reaching 58.65 S cm/m—4.3 times higher than SC-based coatings and 15.3 times higher than pure titanium. These findings highlight the critical role of surfactant selection and processing parameters in developing high-performance conductive materials for biomedical applications, such as neurointerfaces. The study provides a methodology for overcoming the limitations of traditional metal electrodes, offering a promising avenue for next-generation biomedical electronics.
The work was carried out as part of a major scientific project with financial support from the Russian Federation represented by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation under agreement No. 075-15-2024-555 dated April 25, 2024.
Speaker
Popovich Kristina
Institute of Biomedical Systems National Research University of Electronic Technology Zelenograd, Moscow, Russia;Institute for Bionic Technologies and Engineering I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University Moscow, Russia
Russia
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