Breathable and Mechanically Robust Textile Electrode Based on Grooved Silver-Plated Fibers for Reliable Long-Term ECG Monitoring

Conventional biosensing systems frequently induce skin irritation and discomfort owing to prolonged epidermal contact, thereby impeding their suitability for long-term, continuous health monitoring. To overcome this challenge, a textile-based electrode was developed using grooved silver-plated fibers, exhibiting ultralight, skin-compatible, and mechanically robust properties. The fiber grooves impart a high specific surface area, which enhances electrical conductivity highly after electroless silver plating (0.24 Ω/□ of square resistance). The fabric demonstrated excellent breathability (1996 L/m 2 /s of air permeability), moisture permeability (4502.47 g/m 2 /24h of vapor transmission rate), low skin–electrode impedance (<1000 kΩ @ 10–1000 Hz), and high mechanical durability (<24% of electrical change rate). The grooved fiber architecture enhanced moisture transport and shielded the silver coating from abrasion, thereby ensuring long-term wearable comfort. A wireless electrocardiogram (ECG) system was integrated to assess biosensing performance, yielding signals comparable to those of commercial electrodes. When embedded in compression garments, the electrode retained functionality after repeated washing and abrasion cycles, demonstrating its suitability for reliable, long-term, continuous ECG monitoring under dynamic conditions.