Heterostructured IrO2/Au Nanowire Electrodes and Unit Recordings From Hippocampal Rat Brain

Abstract

This research presents the development of neural recording electrodes with high sensitivity using nanotechnology and the evaluation of their electrochemical sensing properties. Neural electrodes with heterostructured IrO2/Au nanowires have been fabricated on a flexible needle probe using a polyimide substrate. The outer, functional layer of the nanoelectrodes was made with a thin iridium oxide layer on vertically aligned Au nanowire cores providing low impedance and high charge storage capacity, which can enhance neural sensing and stimulating efficiency. Acute recording from the hippocampus of a rat brain has confirmed the neural sensing functionality of the heterostructured nanowire electrodes.