Creating low-impedance tetrodes by electroplating with additives

John E. Ferguson; Chris Boldt; David Redish

doi:10.1016/j.sna.2009.10.001

Creating low-impedance tetrodes by electroplating with additives

Neuroscience

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

112 Scopus citations

Abstract

A tetrode is a bundle of four microwires that can record from multiple neurons simultaneously in the brain of a freely moving animal. Tetrodes are usually electroplated to reduce impedances from 2-3 MΩ to 200-500 kΩ (measured at 1 kHz), which increases the signal-to-noise ratio and allows for the recording of small-amplitude signals. Tetrodes with even lower impedances could improve neural recordings but cannot be made using standard electroplating methods without shorting. We were able to electroplate tetrodes to 30-70 kΩ by adding polyethylene glycol (PEG) or multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) solutions to a commercial gold-plating solution. The MWCNTs and PEG acted as inhibitors in the electroplating process and created large surface area, low-impedance coatings on the tetrode tips.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	388-393
Number of pages	6
Journal	Sensors and Actuators, A: Physical
Volume	156
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2009.10.001
State	Published - Dec 2009

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by a grant from the University of Minnesota Institute for Engineering in Medicine (IEM) and an NIH T32-EB008389 training grant. Parts of this work were carried out in the Minnesota Characterization Facility, which receives partial support from NSF through the NNIN program.

Keywords

Carbon nanotubes
Electroplating
Extracellular recording
Impedance
Tetrodes

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10.1016/j.sna.2009.10.001

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title = "Creating low-impedance tetrodes by electroplating with additives",

abstract = "A tetrode is a bundle of four microwires that can record from multiple neurons simultaneously in the brain of a freely moving animal. Tetrodes are usually electroplated to reduce impedances from 2-3 MΩ to 200-500 kΩ (measured at 1 kHz), which increases the signal-to-noise ratio and allows for the recording of small-amplitude signals. Tetrodes with even lower impedances could improve neural recordings but cannot be made using standard electroplating methods without shorting. We were able to electroplate tetrodes to 30-70 kΩ by adding polyethylene glycol (PEG) or multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) solutions to a commercial gold-plating solution. The MWCNTs and PEG acted as inhibitors in the electroplating process and created large surface area, low-impedance coatings on the tetrode tips.",

keywords = "Carbon nanotubes, Electroplating, Extracellular recording, Impedance, Tetrodes",

author = "Ferguson, \{John E.\} and Chris Boldt and David Redish",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by a grant from the University of Minnesota Institute for Engineering in Medicine (IEM) and an NIH T32-EB008389 training grant. Parts of this work were carried out in the Minnesota Characterization Facility, which receives partial support from NSF through the NNIN program. ",

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AU - Ferguson, John E.

AU - Boldt, Chris

AU - Redish, David

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by a grant from the University of Minnesota Institute for Engineering in Medicine (IEM) and an NIH T32-EB008389 training grant. Parts of this work were carried out in the Minnesota Characterization Facility, which receives partial support from NSF through the NNIN program.

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N2 - A tetrode is a bundle of four microwires that can record from multiple neurons simultaneously in the brain of a freely moving animal. Tetrodes are usually electroplated to reduce impedances from 2-3 MΩ to 200-500 kΩ (measured at 1 kHz), which increases the signal-to-noise ratio and allows for the recording of small-amplitude signals. Tetrodes with even lower impedances could improve neural recordings but cannot be made using standard electroplating methods without shorting. We were able to electroplate tetrodes to 30-70 kΩ by adding polyethylene glycol (PEG) or multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) solutions to a commercial gold-plating solution. The MWCNTs and PEG acted as inhibitors in the electroplating process and created large surface area, low-impedance coatings on the tetrode tips.

AB - A tetrode is a bundle of four microwires that can record from multiple neurons simultaneously in the brain of a freely moving animal. Tetrodes are usually electroplated to reduce impedances from 2-3 MΩ to 200-500 kΩ (measured at 1 kHz), which increases the signal-to-noise ratio and allows for the recording of small-amplitude signals. Tetrodes with even lower impedances could improve neural recordings but cannot be made using standard electroplating methods without shorting. We were able to electroplate tetrodes to 30-70 kΩ by adding polyethylene glycol (PEG) or multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) solutions to a commercial gold-plating solution. The MWCNTs and PEG acted as inhibitors in the electroplating process and created large surface area, low-impedance coatings on the tetrode tips.

KW - Carbon nanotubes

KW - Electroplating

KW - Extracellular recording

KW - Impedance

KW - Tetrodes

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Creating low-impedance tetrodes by electroplating with additives

Abstract

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Keywords

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