Substrate-supported thermometry platform for nanomaterials like graphene, nanotubes, and nanowires

TL;DR

This paper introduces a substrate-supported thermometry platform that accurately measures thermal conductivity in various nanomaterials without suspending them, using simulations and uncertainty analysis to optimize performance.

Contribution

It presents a novel, practical thermometry platform for nanomaterials that simplifies measurement processes and broadens applicability compared to suspended platforms.

Findings

Can measure thermal conductance as low as 25 nW/K with <50% error

Applicable to graphene, nanotubes, nanowires, and thin films

Extensible to plastic substrates for wider use

Abstract

We demonstrate a substrate-supported thermometry platform to measure thermal conduction in nanomaterials like graphene, with no need to suspend them. We use three-dimensional simulations and careful uncertainty analysis to optimize the platform geometry and to obtain the sample thermal conductivity. The lowest thermal sheet conductance that can be sensed with <50% error is ~25 nW/K at room temperature, indicating applicability of this platform to graphene or polymer thin films, nanotube or nanowire arrays, even a single Si nanowire. The platform can also be extended to plastic substrates, and could find wide applicability in circumstances where fabrication challenges and low yield associated with suspended platforms must be avoided.