Session: K9 Panel: Nanoscale Heat Transfer Education

Paper Number: 117570

117570 - Hands-on Experimental-Based Module for Nanoscale Thermal Conductivity Measurements 

Courses focusing on nanoscale heat transfer concepts are typically heavily weighted to the introduction and development of the theoretical concepts and discussion of resulting applications.  To parallel the education experience for engineers and scientists, lab-based modules should be developed that allow the student to gain practical hands on experiences with techniques that can further their understanding of nanoscale heat transfer measurements.  Focusing on measurements of thermal properties of materials on the nanoscale, typically these techniques involve extensive research experience to utilize.  For example, pump-probe thermoreflectance-based metrologies rely on the student to understand basic principles of optics and lock-in detection to simply begin to operate the experiment.  To analyze these data, then extensive coding of a multilayer heat equation is necessary to relate the measured data to the thermal properties of interest.  All these steps are typically part of a graduate research experience, and thus simply to get a desired measurement of interest (i.e., the thermal conductivity of a thin film), the student must master various lab and computational concepts that is far beyond what a typical graduate or undergraduate can digest in a single semester long course.

Here, I will discuss our recent developments in steady state thermoreflectance metrologies to create a true turn key, automated thin film thermal conductivity measurement system that removes the requirement of years of necessary research experience needed to execute a typical thermoreflectance measurement and analysis.  By incorporating all optics and electronics in a fiber optic platform, and steam lining the analysis tool, students can focus on understanding the resulting data collected on various thin films of interest to then garner deeper understanding into the nanoscale thermal transport and heat transfer physics that explain their results.  This approach allows students to gain experience in thermoreflectance metrologies and introduces them to nanoscale thermometry measurements with a hands on data collection and analysis exercise that is appropriate for an undergraduate or graduate semester long course.

Presenting Author: Patrick E. Hopkins University of Virginia