Fabrication of high adhesive silver-coated PET electrode challenged by simulated body fluid (SBF) soaking

Ultrasonic assisted electroless deposition of silver on poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) modified with silanes was investigated. Mercapto groups were linked to the PET film as an active layer, which was proved by Raman spectra and EDX analysis. The composition, structure, thermal decomposing behavior of silver-coated PET films after simulated body fluid (SBF) treatment were characterized by scanning electron scopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), and ATR-FTIR spectra respectively. Silver plating on modified PET films has good adherence stability (>40 N/cm) and high electric conductivity (∼0.03 Ω/□) before and after SBF soaking. The practical implication of these results is that this silver-coated polymer can be applied to the flexible conductive electrodes for interventional therapy because of its firmness and improved mechanical property.