RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Biomimetic temperature-sensing layer for artificial skins JF Science Robotics JO Sci. Robotics FD American Association for the Advancement of Science DO 10.1126/scirobotics.aai9251 VO 2 IS 3 A1 Di Giacomo, Raffaele A1 Bonanomi, Luca A1 Costanza, Vincenzo A1 Maresca, Bruno A1 Daraio, Chiara YR 2017 UL http://robotics.sciencemag.org/content/2/3/eaai9251.abstract AB Artificial membranes that are sensitive to temperature are needed in robotics to augment interactions with humans and the environment and in bioengineering to improve prosthetic limbs. Existing flexible sensors achieved sensitivities of <100 millikelvin and large responsivity, albeit within narrow (<5 kelvin) temperature ranges. Other flexible devices, working in wider temperature ranges, exhibit orders of magnitude poorer responses. However, much more versatile and temperature-sensitive membranes are present in animals such as pit vipers, whose pit membranes have the highest sensitivity and responsivity in nature and are used to locate warm-blooded prey at distance. We show that pectin films mimic the sensing mechanism of pit membranes and parallel their record performances. These films map temperature on surfaces with a sensitivity of at least 10 millikelvin in a wide temperature range (45 kelvin), have very high responsivity, and detect warm bodies at distance. The produced material can be integrated as a layer in artificial skin platforms and boost their temperature sensitivity to reach the best biological performance.