Researchers are studying how organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), as opposed to silicon transistors, could lead to far better brain-computer interfaces that detect brain signals either from the surface of the skull or implanted inside.
According to the scientists at France's École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Saint-Étienne, the structure of the OECTs enable the electrodes to be around two orders of magnitude more sensitive than silicon electrodes. From IEEE Spectrum:
Because the devices are polymer based, they can be fabricated using printing processes, which should make them cost just a few cents each, as opposed to several dollars for conventional electrodes, (bioelectronics lead George) Malliaras says. He expects electrodes for use on the outside of the body could be available in the near future. Implantable devices would need to go through government regulatory approval, and thus would take longer.
"Organic Electrochemical Transistors for Reading Brain Waves"
