Room Temperature Picowatt-Resolution Calorimetry

Picowatt-resolution calorimetry is necessary for fundamental studies of nanoscale energy transport. Here, we report a microfabricated device capable of <4 pW resolution-an order of magnitude improvement over state-of-the-art room temperature calorimeters. This is achieved by the incorporation of two important features. First, the active area of the device is thermally isolated by thin and long beams with a total thermal conductance (G) of similar to 600 nW/K. Further, a bimaterial cantilever thermometer capable of a temperature resolution (Delta T(res)) of similar to 4 mu K is integrated into the microdevice. The small thermal conductance and excellent temperature resolution enable measurements of heat currents (q = G x Delta T(res)) with a resolution <4 pW. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3617473]