Stiffness‐Switchable Conductive Nanocomposites with Temperature‐Invariant Conductivity for Long‐Term Brain‐Computer Interfaces on Hair‐Covered Scalp
Source abstract
Abstract
ABSTRACT Reliable neural recording on densely hair‐covered scalp remains challenging due to the incompatibility between efficient hair penetration, conformal skin contact, and low‐impedance electrical interfacing. Here, we report a claw‐shaped dry electrode that integrates thermoresponsive phase‐transition networks for reversible stiffness switching, with temperature‐invariant conductivity enabled by crystallization‐induced confinement, achieving comfortable, low‐impedance neural interfacing on densely hair‐covered scalps. The electrode comprises a bottlebrush polymer/multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) composite, in which crystallizable alkyl side chains act as switching units, enabling rigid hair penetration at ambient conditions and compliant, adhesive scalp interfacing at skin temperature. Importantly, side‐chain crystallization imposes spatial confinement on MWCNTs, enabling efficient percolated networks with an ultralow percolation threshold (0.47 wt.%) and high electrical conductivity (1.8 S m −1 ). Meanwhile, strong MWCNTs‐polymer interfacial interactions provide multipoint anchoring that helps preserve conductive pathway continuity across phase transitions, achieving low electrode‐scalp impedance (∼38 kΩ) upon softening and conformal contact. Validated by steady‐state visual evoked potential measurements, this electrode enables high‐fidelity and frequency‐resolved neural signal acquisition and maintains stable operation for over 100 days, supporting a fully wearable brain‐computer interface with real‐time drone control.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials · Neuroscience and Neural Engineering · Polymer composites and self-healing
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
State Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Interfacial Materials Science Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM) Soochow University Suzhou Jiangsu P. R. China
Macau Institute of Materials Science and Engineering MUST‐SUDA Joint Research Center for Advanced Functional Materials Macau University of Science and Technology Taipa Macau P. R. China
Funding
National Natural Science Foundation of China · Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology
References (49)
Show source-provided references
1. 10.1021/acs.accounts.4c0021510.1021/acs.accounts.4c00215 ↗
2. 10.20517/ss.2023.1910.20517/ss.2023.19 ↗
3. 10.1002/adma.20240341110.1002/adma.202403411 ↗
4. 10.1002/adma.20200113010.1002/adma.202001130 ↗
5. 10.1002/adma.20200149610.1002/adma.202001496 ↗
6. 10.1109/TNSRE.2016.264676310.1109/TNSRE.2016.2646763 ↗
7. 10.1002/adfm.20220045710.1002/adfm.202200457 ↗
8. 10.1002/adma.20200372310.1002/adma.202003723 ↗
9. 10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b0201910.1021/acs.nanolett.9b02019 ↗
10. 10.3390/app1021745310.3390/app10217453 ↗
11. 10.1021/acsnano.3c0678110.1021/acsnano.3c06781 ↗
12. 10.1002/adma.20221101210.1002/adma.202211012 ↗
13. 10.1002/smm2.106810.1002/smm2.1068 ↗
14. 10.1002/adma.20221123610.1002/adma.202211236 ↗
15. 10.1002/advs.20200193810.1002/advs.202001938 ↗
16. 10.1038/s41467‐021‐25152‐y10.1038/s41467‐021‐25152‐y ↗
17. 10.1016/j.snb.2016.10.00510.1016/j.snb.2016.10.005 ↗
18. 10.1088/1741‐2552/abbd5010.1088/1741‐2552/abbd50 ↗
19. 10.1007/s40820‐025‐01780‐710.1007/s40820‐025‐01780‐7 ↗
20. 10.1016/j.device.2023.10018210.1016/j.device.2023.100182 ↗
21. 10.1021/acsnano.2c0896110.1021/acsnano.2c08961 ↗
22. 10.1126/sciadv.abo139610.1126/sciadv.abo1396 ↗
23. 10.1038/s41467‐025‐65089‐010.1038/s41467‐025‐65089‐0 ↗
24. 10.1016/j.matt.2025.10242810.1016/j.matt.2025.102428 ↗
25. 10.1088/1741‐2560/13/4/04602110.1088/1741‐2560/13/4/046021 ↗
26. 10.1002/adfm.20230970410.1002/adfm.202309704 ↗
27. 10.1109/JSEN.2020.301239410.1109/JSEN.2020.3012394 ↗
28. 10.1038/s41598‐018‐32283‐810.1038/s41598‐018‐32283‐8 ↗
29. 10.1109/TBME.2014.234731810.1109/TBME.2014.2347318 ↗
30. 10.1073/pnas.241930412210.1073/pnas.2419304122 ↗
31. 10.1038/s41467‐020‐18503‐810.1038/s41467‐020‐18503‐8 ↗
32. 10.1016/j.sna.2022.11406210.1016/j.sna.2022.114062 ↗
33. 10.1002/advs.20230079310.1002/advs.202300793 ↗
34. 10.1016/j.cej.2024.15045910.1016/j.cej.2024.150459 ↗
35. 10.1016/j.matt.2021.03.00310.1016/j.matt.2021.03.003 ↗
36. 10.1002/adma.20200531410.1002/adma.202005314 ↗
37. 10.1038/nature2367310.1038/nature23673 ↗
38. 10.1126/sciadv.abc690010.1126/sciadv.abc6900 ↗
39. 10.1021/acs.macromol.5b0238210.1021/acs.macromol.5b02382 ↗
40. 10.1021/ma071055p10.1021/ma071055p ↗
41. 10.1002/advs.20220026410.1002/advs.202200264 ↗
42. 10.1002/admt.20190031610.1002/admt.201900316 ↗
43. 10.1016/j.compositesa.2022.10726910.1016/j.compositesa.2022.107269 ↗
44. 10.1016/j.compscitech.2021.10913310.1016/j.compscitech.2021.109133 ↗
45. 10.1002/smtd.20220134010.1002/smtd.202201340 ↗
46. 10.1126/science.aag287910.1126/science.aag2879 ↗
47. 10.1002/pc.2832410.1002/pc.28324 ↗
48. 10.1038/s42256‐019‐0091‐710.1038/s42256‐019‐0091‐7 ↗
49. 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2009.11.00510.1016/j.pneurobio.2009.11.005 ↗