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Multi-environment Nanocalorimeter with Electrical Contacts for Use in the Scanning Electron Microscope
Published
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
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 9, 2025)