Quantitative Mapping of Nanothermal Transport via Scanning Thermal Microscopy

• Main Author: Spièce, Jean (Author, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/aut)
• Corporate Author: SpringerLink (Online service)
• Format: Electronic eBook
• Language: English
• Published: Cham : Springer International Publishing : Imprint: Springer, 2019.
• Edition: 1st ed. 2019.
• Series: Springer Theses, Recognizing Outstanding Ph.D. Research,
• Subjects: Surfaces (Physics).; Interfaces (Physical sciences).; Thin films.; Nanotechnology.; Electronic circuits.; Surface and Interface Science, Thin Films.; Electronic Circuits and Devices.; Nanotechnology and Microengineering.

 The thesis tackles one of the most difficult problems of modern nanoscale science and technology - exploring what governs thermal phenomena at the nanoscale, how to measure the temperatures in devices just a few atoms across, and how to manage heat transport on these length scales. Nanoscale heat generated in microprocessor components of only a few tens of nanometres across cannot be effectively fed away, thus stalling the famous Moore's law of increasing computer speed, valid now for more than a decade. In this thesis, Jean Spièce develops a novel comprehensive experimental and analytical framework for high precision measurement of heat flows at the nanoscale using advanced scanning thermal microscopy (SThM) operating in ambient and vacuum environment, and reports the world's first operation of cryogenic SThM. He applies the methodology described in the thesis to novel carbon-nanotube-based effective heat conductors, uncovers new phenomena of thermal transport in two- dimensional (2D) materials such as graphene and boron nitride, thereby discovering an entirely new paradigm of thermoelectric cooling and energy production using geometrical modification of 2D materials. 

 Outline and motivations -- Background Review -- SThM Experimental Models and Setups for Exploring Nanoscale Heat Transport -- Quantitative Thermal Transport Measurements in Nanostructures -- Three Dimensional Mapping of Thermal Properties -- Nanoscale Thermal Transport in Low Dimensional Materials -- Thermoelectric Phenomena in Graphene Constrictions -- Conclusion and Perspectives -- Appendices.