Experimental Investigation of PEDOT:PSS-based Films as Transparent Electrodes for Electrocardiography

This work details the experimental characterization of Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) PEDOT:PSS-based films on rigid glass substrates for use as transparent electrodes in electrocardiography. In particular, a formulation of PEDOT:PSS and an oxetane additive is explored due to its high conductivity, structural stability against aqueous or humid media, and transparency, which is desirable for reusable and robust sensing platforms. We analyzed the electrical performance by acquiring sine waves (2 Hz and 5 Hz) and Electrocardiography (ECG) R-peaks at 60 bpm, 80 bpm, and 120 bpm, using the ScientISST board and a patient simulator. Two connection methods were also assessed, namely, direct connection and connection via silver paste. Signal processing involved filtering, synchronization, and scaling. Results show that the filtering strategy significantly enhances signal quality across all configurations. This study confirms that the used organic mixture forms functional, stable, and transparent electrodes on rigid glass, supporting its potential for multi-use bioelectronic applications.