UC Irvine

Hydrogels hold immense potential in soft electronics due to their resemblance tobiological tissues. However, for applications in fields like tissue engineering and wearable electronics, hydrogels must possess electrical conductivity, stretchability, and implantability. This dissertation explores recent advancements in the development of electrically conductive hydrogel composites with high conductivity and remarkable stretchability. By incorporating conductive particles into hydrogels, such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) researchers have enhanced their conductivity. This study presents a synthesis method for creating electrically conductive hydrogel composites by combining PEDOT:PSS with alginate. The hydrogel reveals changes in chemical composition upon treatment with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Additionally, surface morphology analysis via Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) demonstrated the impact of DMSO treatment on PEDOT:PSS Alginate films. Furthermore, electrical conductivity measurements highlighted the effectiveness of the conductive hydrogels in Electromyography (EMG) and human motion detection. This study offers insights into the fabrication and characterization of stretchable, conductive hydrogels, advancing their potential for various biomedical applications.