Soft, breathable, and recyclable MXene fabrics for wearable electrophysiological recordings

Abstract

The widespread utility of single-use bioelectronic devices, particularly disposable electrodes for electrophysiological monitoring, raises environmental concerns due to increased medical waste and non-biodegradable materials. This underscores the growing demand for wearable electrode systems that deliver high signal fidelity while adhering to sustainability principles. This study presents a recyclable, wearable electrode patch incorporating a gelatin matrix embedded in Ti₃C₂T_x MXene non-woven fibers manufactured via wet spinning. This design enables repeated reprocessing at low temperatures, around 40 °C, due to the thermoreversible solution–gel properties of gelatin, allowing for multiple cycles of reuse without performance degradation. The MXene/gelatin non-woven structure maintains high conductivity, mechanical flexibility, and skin compatibility while exhibiting excellent breathability. The fine fiber structure and controlled deposition provide enhanced interfacial electrical conductivity and adjustable density depending on fiber diameter. As a result, the manufactured non-woven fabric electrode demonstrates low impedance, a high signal-to-noise ratio, and reliable acquisition of bio-signals from skin. Electrocardiogram and electromyogram measurements showed stable performance even after recycling, proving the potential of conventional electrodes as an alternative. This study presents an integrated approach that achieves both functional performance and environmental sustainability in eco-friendly bioelectronics.