Scanning Thermal Microscopy in Air and Vacuum: A Comparison

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Main Authors: McClelland, Jabez J., Strelcov, Evgheni, Chand, Ami
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author McClelland, Jabez J.
Strelcov, Evgheni
Chand, Ami
author_facet McClelland, Jabez J.
Strelcov, Evgheni
Chand, Ami
contents We present measurements comparing scanning thermal microscopy in air and vacuum. Signal levels are compared and resolution is probed by scanning over the edge of a nanofabricated Ag square embedded in SiO2. Signals measured in air were seen to be 2.5 to 40 times larger than in vacuum. Furthermore, the air signals were stable while the vacuum signals varied significantly. Edge widths measured in air were approximately 39 % larger than those measured in vacuum. Our observations are consistent with the air measurements experiencing heat transfer from the surrounding sample via conduction and convection as well as the formation of a water-related meniscus at the tip-sample junction. These results contribute to the understanding of the complex heat exchange effects that can occur in scanning thermal microscopy when it is conducted in an ambient atmosphere.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2411_17507
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Scanning Thermal Microscopy in Air and Vacuum: A Comparison
McClelland, Jabez J.
Strelcov, Evgheni
Chand, Ami
Instrumentation and Detectors
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Materials Science
We present measurements comparing scanning thermal microscopy in air and vacuum. Signal levels are compared and resolution is probed by scanning over the edge of a nanofabricated Ag square embedded in SiO2. Signals measured in air were seen to be 2.5 to 40 times larger than in vacuum. Furthermore, the air signals were stable while the vacuum signals varied significantly. Edge widths measured in air were approximately 39 % larger than those measured in vacuum. Our observations are consistent with the air measurements experiencing heat transfer from the surrounding sample via conduction and convection as well as the formation of a water-related meniscus at the tip-sample junction. These results contribute to the understanding of the complex heat exchange effects that can occur in scanning thermal microscopy when it is conducted in an ambient atmosphere.
title Scanning Thermal Microscopy in Air and Vacuum: A Comparison
topic Instrumentation and Detectors
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2411.17507