Scanning thermal microscopy based on a quartz tuning fork and a micro-thermocouple in active mode (2ω method)

Rev Sci Instrum. 2016 Jun;87(6):063702. doi: 10.1063/1.4952958.

Abstract

A novel probe for scanning thermal microscope using a micro-thermocouple probe placed on a Quartz Tuning Fork (QTF) is presented. Instead of using an external deflection with a cantilever beam for contact detection, an original combination of piezoelectric resonator and thermal probe is employed. Due to a non-contact photothermal excitation principle, the high quality factor of the QTF allows the probe-to-surface contact detection. Topographic and thermal scanning images obtained on a specific sample points out the interest of our system as an alternative to cantilevered resistive probe systems which are the most spread.