A new waterproof coating allows skin sensors to measure a person stress levels while they are swimming in the ocean.
April 25, 2026
Original Paper
Mechanically Robust Superhydrophobic Coatings via Dual-Step Deposition for Electrodermal Activity (EDA) Electrodes Immersible in Saltwater
SSRN · 6641936
The Takeaway
Saltwater is highly conductive and typically causes the electronics in stress sensors to short circuit instantly. Researchers developed a dual step deposition process to create a superhydrophobic coating that repels water at the molecular level. This allows electrodes to maintain a clear connection with the skin to measure electrodermal activity even when fully submerged. Divers and rescue workers could use this technology to monitor their physiological strain in real time. It provides a reliable way to track health data in extreme aquatic environments where standard wearables fail. The coating makes precision electronics completely immune to salt and moisture.
From the abstract
Continuous physiological monitoring is paramount for ensuring the safety of divers in extreme underwater environments, where risks occur such as central nervous system oxygen toxicity (CNS-OT) due to the breathing mixture. Electrodermal activity (EDA) serves as a vital physiomarker for sympathetic nervous system activation; however, its measurement in seawater is hindered by ionic interference. Herein, we report a robust, superhydrophobic-coated EDA sensor fabricated via a scalable injection mol