Sputtered iridium oxide films (SIROFs) for low-impedance neural stimulation and recording electrodes

Iridium oxide films formed by electrochemical activation of iridium metal (AIROF) or by electrochemical deposition (EIROF) are being evaluated as low-impedance charge-injection coatings for neural stimulation and recording. Iridium oxide may also be deposited by reactive sputtering from iridium metal in an oxidizing plasma. The characterization of sputtered iridium oxide films (SIROFs) as coatings for nerve electrodes is reported. SIROFs were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and potential transient measurements during charge-injection. The surface morphology of the SIROF transitions from smooth to highly nodular with increasing film thickness from 80 nm to 4600 nm. Charge-injection capacities exceed 0.75 mC/cm/sup 2/ with 0.75 ms current pulses in thicker films. The SIROF was deposited on both planar and non-planar substrates and photolithographically patterned by lift-off.