Graphene electrodes for stimulation of neuronal cells

Graphene has the ability to improve the electrical interface between neuronal cells and electrodes used for recording and stimulation purposes. It provides a biocompatible coating for common electrode materials such as gold and improves the electrode properties. Graphene electrodes are also prepared on SiO₂ substrate to benefit from its optical properties like transparency. We perform electrochemical and Raman characterization of gold electrodes with graphene coating and compare them with graphene on SiO₂ substrate. It was found that the substrate plays an important role in the performance of graphene and show that graphene on SiO₂ substrate is a very promising material combination for stimulation electrodes. (paper)