Self-Adhesive Conformal Nanostructured Skin Resistant to Low-Motion Artifact and Sustainable Electrophysiological Monitoring

Conformal skin-mounted electronics involve the development of wearable electronics that adhere directly to the skin for various applications such as healthcare monitoring, fitness tracking, and human-machine interaction. Notably, Epidermal electrodes placed on the skin enable the accurate extraction of electrophysiological (EP) signals such as electrocardiogram (ECG), electromyogram (EMG), electrooculogram, and electroencephalogram. There has been growing interest in EP electrodes of ultrathin electrodes ensuring conformal contact on surfaces of the skin for high-fidelity EP signal acquisition while minimizing motion artifacts and underwater surrounding. Herein, we introduce a self-adhesive nanostructured skin comprising conductive MXene (Ti₃C₂T_x), a poly-L-lysine adhesive layer, and a parylene substrate, designed for low-motion artifacts and water-resistant monitoring of EP signals such as ECG and EMG. To enhance conformability, water-assisted capillary-driven flow can be used to self-adhere the electrode to the skin, creating a highly conformal contact without air pockets between the electrode and the skin. They were characterized by a high signal-to-noise ratio, minimal motion artifacts, and the capability for underwater EP signal monitoring in real-time, as well as long-term stability.