AVS 53rd International Symposium
    Nanometer-scale Science and Technology Tuesday Sessions
       Session NS-TuA

Paper NS-TuA5
Towards Nanowire-Based Thermocouple Arrays

Tuesday, November 14, 2006, 3:20 pm, Room 2016

Session: Nanoscale Devices and Detection
Presenter: M.E. Bourg, University of California, Irvine
Authors: M.E. Bourg, University of California, Irvine
R.M. Penner, University of California, Irvine
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The ability to accurately measure temperature on the same time scale as a thermal process under investigation is important in many industrial processes. A thermocouple, which consists of a junction between two dissimilar metals, is most often the device used for such measurements. As the thermal mass of the junction decreases, the response time decreases and the spatial resolution increases. Therefore, junctions containing nanowires should lead to faster response times and increased spatial resolution. In order to initally investigate this, we prepared nanowire-thin film (NWTF) junctions consisting of electrodeposited nanowires and an evaporated film. These devices measure temperature accurately and reproducibly, and have a response time of 2ms. For comparison, the response time of a 0.81mm type J thermocouple was 12s. To improve upon the enhancements shown by NWTF devices, nanowire-nanowire junctions were also fabricated. The characterization of these thermocouple arrays by SEM, EDS, and thermal measurements will be presented.