Advancing neural interface technology for high-fidelity cortical recording and stimulation Spencer Robert Averbeck

Format:

Book

Thesis/Dissertation

Author/Creator:

Averbeck, Spencer Robert, author.

Contributor:

University of Pennsylvania. Bioengineering., degree granting institution.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bioengineering.

Industrial engineering.

Neurosciences.

0202.

0317.

0546.

Local Subjects:

Bioengineering.

Industrial engineering.

Neurosciences.

0202.

0317.

0546.

Genre:

Academic theses

Physical Description:

1 online resource (232 pages)

Contained In:

Dissertations Abstracts International 87-12B

Place of Publication:

Ann Arbor : ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, 2026

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Bioelectronic interfaces form the foundation of technologies that diagnose, monitor, and treat neurological and physiological disorders. From cardiac pacemakers and cochlear implants to brain-computer interfaces and neuromodulation devices, these systems rely on electrodes capable of recording subtle biological signals and delivering targeted stimulation. However, conventional electrode materials and fabrication methods impose significant limitations. Metals such as platinum and gold exhibit high impedance and low charge injection when miniaturized, constraining the resolution of next-generation neural interfaces. At the same time, up-and-coming cleanroom-based fabrication methods are costly and inflexible, limiting rapid prototyping and broad accessibility. As demand grows for high-density, customizable, and clinically translatable electrode arrays, there is a pressing need for new materials and scalable fabrication strategies that can bridge the gap between research innovation and clinical translation. In this thesis, I explore Ti3C2Tx MXene, a two-dimensional nanomaterial with exceptional conductivity, capacitive charge transfer, and solution processability, as a material to overcome some of these challenges. First, I evaluate the stability of MXene devices under sterilization protocols to establish their compatibility with clinical workflows. Second, I investigate how electrode diameter and processing conditions influence MXenes' electrochemical performance, benchmarking against platinum to define design rules for miniaturized interfaces. Third, I develop an additive manufacturing approach using direct ink writing to rapidly prototype MXene-based electrode arrays with customizable geometries and mechanical flexibility. Together, these studies advance both the materials and methods of bioelectronics, and more specifically, neural interfaces. By validating clinical stability, defining electrochemical principles of electrode size scaling, and establishing rapid and scalable fabrication strategies, this work demonstrates how MXene can enable cost-effective, high-density, and high-fidelity neural interface systems. The outcomes provide a foundation for neural electrodes that support both fundamental neuroscience research and future clinical and BCI translation, with the goal of improving patient care and expanding our ability to probe and modulate complex biological systems

Notes:

Source: Dissertations Abstracts International, Volume: 87-12, Section: B.

Advisors: Vitale, Flavia; Beauchamp, Michael S. Committee members: Cullen, Kacy; Pesaran, Bijan; Chen, H. Isaac

Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania 2026

Vendor supplied data

Local Notes:

School code: 0175

ISBN:

9798247979548

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license