Multi-environment Nanocalorimeter with Electrical Contacts for Use in the Scanning Electron Microscope

Published

September 11, 2017

Author(s)

Feng Yi, Ana Stevanovic, William Alexander Osborn, Andrei Kolmakov, David A. LaVan

Abstract

We have developed a versatile nanocalorimeter sensor which allows imaging and electrical measurements of samples under different gaseous environments using the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and can simultaneously measure the sample temperature and associated heat of reaction. This new sensor consists of four independent heating/sensing elements for nanocalorimetry and eight electrodes for electrical measurements, all mounted on a 50 nm thick, 250 µm x 250 µm suspended silicon nitride membrane. This membrane is highly electron transparent and mechanically robust enabling in situ SEM under realistic temperatures, environmental conditions and pressures up to one atmosphere. To demonstrate this new capability, we report here on 1) in situ SEM-nanocalorimetry study of melting and solidification of polyethylene oxide, 2) the electron beam induced current measurements of a nanowire in vacuum and air; 3) the temperature dependence of conductivity of a nanowire. Furthermore, the sensor is easily adaptable to operate in liquid environment and is compatible with most existing SEM. This versatile platform couples nanocalorimetry with in situ SEM imaging under various gaseous and liquid environments and is applicable to materials research, nanotechnology, energy, catalysis and biomedical applications.

Citation

Materials Horizons

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

Nano, calorimeter, calorimetry, thermal analysis, electron microscope, SEM, environmental, nanowire, in situ

Citation

Yi, F. , Stevanovic, A. , Osborn, W. , Kolmakov, A. and LaVan, D. (2017), Multi-environment Nanocalorimeter with Electrical Contacts for Use in the Scanning Electron Microscope, Materials Horizons (Accessed October 22, 2025)