title: Quantification of probe-sample interactions of a scanning thermal microscope using a nanofabricated calibration sample having programmable size.
abstract: We report a method for quantifying scanning thermal microscopy (SThM) probe-sample thermal interactions in air using a novel temperature calibration device. This new device has been designed, fabricated and characterised using SThM to provide an accurate and spatially variable temperature distribution that can be used as a temperature reference due to its unique design. The device was characterised by means of a microfabricated SThM probe operating in passive mode. This data was interpreted using a heat transfer model, built to describe the thermal interactions during a SThM thermal scan. This permitted the thermal contact resistance between the SThM tip and the device to be determined as 8.33 × 10(5) K W(-1). It also permitted the probe-sample contact radius to be clarified as being the same size as the probe's tip radius of curvature. Finally, the data were used in the construction of a lumped-system steady state model for the SThM probe and its potential applications were addressed.
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Rankine Building, Oakfield Avenue, Glasgow G12 8LT, UK.
authors.forename: Yunfei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jamie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Booth
authors.forename: Jonathan M R
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.forename: Phillip S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Dobson