Work

Nanocalorimetry using microscopic optical wireless integrated circuits

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: We present in situ calorimetry, thermal conductivity, and thermal diffusivity measurements of materials using temperature-sensing optical wireless integrated circuits (OWiCs). These microscopic and untethered optical sensors eliminate input wires and reduce parasitic effects. Each OWiC has a mass of ∼100 ng, a 100-μm-scale footprint, and a thermal response time of microseconds. We demonstrate that they can measure the thermal properties of nearly any material, from aerogels to metals, on samples as small as 100 ng and over thermal diffusivities covering four orders of magnitude. They also function over a broad temperature range, and we present proof-of-concept measurements of the thermodynamic phase transitions in both liquid crystal 5CB and gadolinium.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2205322119

Authors: Conrad L. Smart, Alejandro J. Cortese, B. J. Ramshaw, Paul L. McEuen

Institution: Cornell University

Language: English

Topic: Thermal properties of materials

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: National Science Foundation, Air Force Office of Scientific Research

Awards: G211133039, Cornell Center for Materials Research - MRSEC