Highlights

The Method for the Determination of Thermal DiffusivityThermal diffusivity (a with the unit mm2/s) is a material-specific property for characterizing unsteady heat conduction. This value describes how quickly a material reacts to a change in temperature.Thermal Diffusivity in the Thickness Range of Nanometer

Time DomainA time domain analysis is based on changes in physical signals related to time. A time-domain graph shows how a signal changes over time. In the case of thermoreflectance or the laser flash method, the detector signal (voltage change) is recorded – at a minimum – over the time range between the energy input and the signal maximum (e.g., RF mode) or as a function of the expected heat diffusion time (e.g., FF mode).Time Domain ThermoreflectanceThermoreflectance is a method for determining the thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity of thin films with thicknesses in the nanometer range.Thermoreflectance Methods

The Method for the Determination of Thermal DiffusivityThermal diffusivity (a with the unit mm2/s) is a material-specific property for characterizing unsteady heat conduction. This value describes how quickly a material reacts to a change in temperature.Thermal Diffusivity in the Thickness Range of Nanometer

With the significant progress in the design of electronic devices and the associated need for an efficient thermal management, accurate Thermal DiffusivityThermal diffusivity (a with the unit mm2/s) is a material-specific property for characterizing unsteady heat conduction. This value describes how quickly a material reacts to a change in temperature.thermal diffusivity / Thermal ConductivityThermal conductivity (λ with the unit W/(m•K)) describes the transport of energy – in the form of heat – through a body of mass as the result of a temperature gradient (see fig. 1). According to the second law of thermodynamics, heat always flows in the direction of the lower temperature.thermal conductivity measurements in the nanometer range are more than ever crucial.

The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Japan, already responded to industrial requirements with the development of a “pulsed light heating ThermoreflectanceThermoreflectance is a method for determining the thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity of thin films with thicknesses in the nanometer range.thermoreflectance method” in the early 90’s. PicoTherm Corporation was established in 2008 with the launch of a nano-second ThermoreflectanceThermoreflectance is a method for determining the thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity of thin films with thicknesses in the nanometer range.thermoreflectance apparatus “NanoTR” and a pico-second ThermoreflectanceThermoreflectance is a method for determining the thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity of thin films with thicknesses in the nanometer range.thermoreflectance apparatus “PicoTR”, which allows for absolute measurements of the Thermal DiffusivityThermal diffusivity (a with the unit mm2/s) is a material-specific property for characterizing unsteady heat conduction. This value describes how quickly a material reacts to a change in temperature.thermal diffusivity of thin films in a thickness range of several 10 μm down into the nanometer range.

In October 2020, PicoTherm joined the NETZSCH Group as a subsidiary of NETZSCH Japan. In combination with our LFA systems, NETZSCH can now offer the solution for thin films in the nanometer range up to bulk materials in the range of mm.

Thin film ribbon cable thermal conductivity testing

With the significant progress in the design of electronic devices and the associated need for an efficient thermal management, accurate Thermal DiffusivityThermal diffusivity (a with the unit mm2/s) is a material-specific property for characterizing unsteady heat conduction. This value describes how quickly a material reacts to a change in temperature.thermal diffusivity / Thermal ConductivityThermal conductivity (λ with the unit W/(m•K)) describes the transport of energy – in the form of heat – through a body of mass as the result of a temperature gradient (see fig. 1). According to the second law of thermodynamics, heat always flows in the direction of the lower temperature.thermal conductivity measurements in the nanometer range are more than ever crucial.

The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Japan, already responded to industrial requirements with the development of a “pulsed light heating ThermoreflectanceThermoreflectance is a method for determining the thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity of thin films with thicknesses in the nanometer range.thermoreflectance method” in the early 90’s. PicoTherm Corporation was established in 2008 with the launch of a nano-second ThermoreflectanceThermoreflectance is a method for determining the thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity of thin films with thicknesses in the nanometer range.thermoreflectance apparatus “NanoTR” and a pico-second ThermoreflectanceThermoreflectance is a method for determining the thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity of thin films with thicknesses in the nanometer range.thermoreflectance apparatus “PicoTR”, which allows for absolute measurements of the Thermal DiffusivityThermal diffusivity (a with the unit mm2/s) is a material-specific property for characterizing unsteady heat conduction. This value describes how quickly a material reacts to a change in temperature.thermal diffusivity of thin films in a thickness range of several 10 μm down into the nanometer range.

NanoTR’s state-of-the-art signal processing technology allows high speed measurements. With this ThermoreflectanceThermoreflectance is a method for determining the thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity of thin films with thicknesses in the nanometer range.thermoreflectance apparatus, a laser pulse of 1 ns pulse width is periodically (20 μs) irradiated to the sample. 

The resulting temperature response is applied to a CW laser (probe laser). Excellent s/n ratio can be attained by high speed integration of repetitive signals. It can be easily switched between the RF and FF configurations though the software for a wide variety of samples.

NanoTR is in accordance with JIS R 1689, JIS R 1690, and SI traceable by the thin film standard of heat diffusion time (RM1301-a), supplied from AIST.

Prinzip der NETZSCH NanoTR Thermal Reflectance Methode

Specifications

  NanoTR
Pump LaserPulse width
Wave length
Beam diameter
1 ns
1550 nm
100 μm
Probe LaserPulse width
Wave length
Beam diameter
continuous
785 nm
50 μm
Measurement items Thermal DiffusivityThermal diffusivity (a with the unit mm2/s) is a material-specific property for characterizing unsteady heat conduction. This value describes how quickly a material reacts to a change in temperature.Thermal diffusivity and effusivity, interfacial resistance
Sample Film Thickness
(RF method)
Resin
Ceramics
Metal
30 nm ... 2 μm
300 nm ... 5 μm
1 μm ... 20 μm
Sample Film Thickness
(FF method)
 Thicker than 1 μm
SubstrateMaterial
Size
Thickness
Opaque/Transparent
10 ... 20 mm square
1 mm max.
Thermal DiffusivityThermal diffusivity (a with the unit mm2/s) is a material-specific property for characterizing unsteady heat conduction. This value describes how quickly a material reacts to a change in temperature.Thermal diffusivity

 
Range0.01 ... 1000 mm²/s
Accuracy± 6.2% with 40 min measurement time, for CRM 5808A in RF Mode, 400 nm thickness
Repeatability± 5%
Software Calculation of thermal properties, multilayer analysis, database

Software

In-situ display and analyzing 100,000 shots 

The state-of-the-art measurement/analysis software of NanoTR/PicoTR has an easy-to-handle user interface which allows for a precise determination of the thermal properties of thin films. The laser beam focusing can be adjusted by the software and CCD picture can be obtained.

NanoTR/PicoTR software runs under Microsoft Windows.

The plot shows that in 1 μs measurement time one measurement curve can be obtained.

Obtaining results in minutes

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