Development of Multifunctional E-skin Sensors

Electronic skin (e-skin) is a hot topic due to its enormous potential for health monitoring, functional prosthesis, robotics, and human-machine-interfaces (HMI). For these applications, pressure and temperature sensors and energy harvesters are essential. Their performance may be tuned by their films micro-structuring, either through expensive and time-consuming photolithography techniques or low-cost yet low-tunability approaches. This PhD thesis aimed to introduce and explore a new micro-structuring technique to the field of e-skin – laser engraving – to produce multifunctional e-skin devices able to sense pressure and temperature while being self-powered. This technique was employed to produce moulds for soft lithography, in a low-cost, fast, and highly customizable way. Several parameters of the technique were studied to evaluate their impact in the performance of the devices, such as moulds materials, laser power and speed, and design variables. Amongst the piezoresistive sensors produced, sensors suitable for blood pressure wave detection at the wrist [sensitivity of – 3.2 kPa-1 below 119 Pa, limit of detection (LOD) of 15 Pa], general health monitoring (sensitivity of 4.5 kPa-1 below 10 kPa, relaxation time of 1.4 ms, micro-structured film thickness of only 133 µm), and robotics and functional prosthesis (sensitivity of – 6.4 × 10-3 kPa-1 between 1.2 kPa and 100 kPa, stable output over 27 500 cycles) were obtained. Temperature sensors with micro-cones were achieved with a temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of 2.3 %/°C. Energy harvesters based on micro-structured composites of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and zinc tin oxide (ZnSnO3) nanowires (NWs; 120 V and 13 µA at > 100 N) or zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods (NRs; 6 V at 2.3 N) were produced as well. The work described herein unveils the tremendous potential of the laser engraving technique to produce different e-skin devices with adjustable performance to suit distinct applications, with a high benefit/cost ratio

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data