Electrochromic optical recording (ECORE)

Optical recording of bioelectric potentials based on electrochromic materials

Understanding how a network of interconnected neurons receives, stores, and processes information is one of the outstanding scientific challenges of our time. The ability to reliably detect multiple neuroelectric activities and monitor them over a long time is essential for addressing this challenge. Individual electrodes or multielectrode arrays can be used, but these approaches are limited in recording duration and offer only limited ability to pick the location whose potential is being recorded “on the fly”. Optical methods can offer flexible multichannel readout, but often implant “labels,” such as fluorescent molecules, into the cells under observation. 

We have developed a new approach, based on the fact that some materials change color in response to applied voltages - electrochromism. An electrochromic thin film (e.g., PEDOT:PSS) transduces bioelectric signals into local color changes. These are read out with high spatial resolution by using sensitive laser methods. This approach is label-free and allows long-term recording of spontaneous neuroelectric activities. We are providing shot-noise limited methods to measure the tiny absorption changes of the film at multiple recording locations, and are working on increasing the spatial resolution, sensitivity, and versatility of the method.  

Team members

Burhan Ahmed

Kenneth Nakasone

Publications

  1. Microscopy of Bioelectric Potentials using Electrochromism. Burhan Ahmed, Erica Liu, Lothar Maisenbacher, Pengwei Sun, Dana Griffith, Kenneth Nakasone, Yuecheng Zhou, Bianxiao Cui, and Holger Müller. arXiv:2602.00363 (2026)

  2. Ultrasensitive label-free optical recording of bioelectric potentials using dioxythiophenebased electrochromic polymers. Yuecheng Zhou, Erica Liu, Anna M. Österholm, Austin L. Jones, Pengwei Sun, Yang Yang, Ching-Ting Tsai1, Tomasz Zaluska, Wei Zhang, Holger Müller, John R. Reynolds, and Bianxiao Cui. Nat. Commun. 16, 6776 (2025)

  3. Compact Electrochromic Optical Recording of Bioelectric Potentials. Kenneth Nakasone, Chris Zavik, Erica Liu, Burhan Ahmed, Dana Griffith, Lothar Maisenbacher, Ashwin Singh, Yuecheng Zhou, Bianxiao Cui, and Holger Müller. arXiv:2311.15506 (2023)

  4. Dual-Color Optical Recording of Bioelectric Potentials by Polymer Electrochromism. Yuecheng Zhou, Erica Liu, Yang Yang, Felix S. Alfonso, Burhan Ahmed, Kenneth Nakasone, Csaba Forró, Holger Müller, and Bianxiao Cui. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 144, 23505-23515 (2022).

  5. Optical Electrophysiology: Toward the Goal of Label-Free Voltage Imaging. Yuecheng Zhou, Erica Liu, Holger Müller, and Bianxiao Cui. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 143, 28, 10482–10499 (2021).

  6. Label-free optical detection of bioelectric potentials using electrochromic thin films. Felix S. Alfonso, Yuecheng Zhou, Erica Liu, Allister F. McGuire, Yang Yang, Husniye Kantarci, Dong Li, Eric Copenhaver, J. Bradley Zuchero, Holger Müller, and Bianxiao Cui. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 117 (29) 17260-17268 and bioRxiv 2020.05.16.099002 (2020)