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Flexible and Transparent Metal Oxide/Metal Grid Hybrid Interfaces for Electrophysiology and Optogenetics
Author(s) -
Chen Zhiyuan,
Yin Rose T.,
Obaid Sofian N.,
Tian Jinbi,
Chen Sheena W.,
Miniovich Ala.,
Boyajian Nicolas,
Efimov Igor R.,
Lu Luyao
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced materials technologies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.184
H-Index - 42
ISSN - 2365-709X
DOI - 10.1002/admt.202000322
Subject(s) - materials science , microelectrode , indium tin oxide , optogenetics , nanotechnology , optoelectronics , bend radius , sheet resistance , electrode , bending , composite material , thin film , chemistry , layer (electronics) , neuroscience , biology
Abstract Flexible and transparent microelectrodes and interconnects provide the unique capability for a wide range of emerging biological applications, including simultaneous optical and electrical interrogation of biological systems. For practical biointerfacing, it is important to further improve the optical, electrical, electrochemical, and mechanical properties of the transparent conductive materials. Here, high‐performance microelectrodes and interconnects with high optical transmittance (59–81%), superior electrochemical impedance (5.4–18.4 Ω cm 2 ), and excellent sheet resistance (5.6–14.1 Ω sq −1 ), using indium tin oxide (ITO) and metal grid (MG) hybrid structures are demonstrated. Notably, the hybrid structures retain the superior mechanical properties of flexible MG other than brittle ITO with no changes in sheet resistance even after 5000 bending cycles against a small radius at 5 mm. The capabilities of the ITO/MG microelectrodes and interconnects are highlighted by high‐fidelity electrical recordings of transgenic mouse hearts during co‐localized programmed optogenetic stimulation. In vivo histological analysis reveals that the ITO/MG structures are fully biocompatible. Those results demonstrate the great potential of ITO/MG interfaces for broad fundamental and translational physiological studies.