Local temperature measurements on nanoscale materials using a movable nanothermocouple assembled in a transmission electron microscope

Nanotechnology. 2011 Dec 2;22(48):485707. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/22/48/485707. Epub 2011 Nov 9.

Abstract

A nanoscale thermocouple consisting of merged Cu and Cu-Ni tips is developed for local temperature measurements on advanced nanomaterials by using a probing technique in a high-resolution transmission electron microscope (TEM) equipped with a double probe scanning tunneling microcopy (STM) unit. The fabricated nanothermocouple works as the so-called T-type thermocouple and displays a quick response and high spatial and thermal resolutions. A generated thermoelectromotive force which reflects rapid temperature changes controlled by electron beam intensity alternations on a metal nanoelectrode proves the technique's usefulness for high-precision local temperature measurements. The developed method demonstrates the effectiveness while also measuring temperature changes in Joule heated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and in a modeled electrical conductive composite nanosystem.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't