Characterization of Nanoscale Thermal Conductivity

This chapter aims to review the latest advancements in characterizing the nanoscale thermal conductivity. Nanoscale materials and devices have shown tremendous promise as building blocks for future technologies. Moreover, the complexity of nanoscale devices and structures makes the characterization of nanoscale thermal conductivity more challenging. The scanning thermal microscopy method was first invented in 1986 by Williams and Wickramasinghe. It was based on a thermocouple sensor, which was sensitive to local temperature and thus acts as a nanoscale thermometer. The optically generated coherent phonons can be utilized in thermal transport measurements, which is considered as an alternative method to determine the mean free path. Alternatives to experimental methods are well-developed simulation tools for nanoscale thermal conductivity characterization, such as First-Principles Calculation. Molecular dynamics simulations are equipped with empirical interatomic potentials as well as Newton’s second law of motion to trace trajectories of all atoms in a finite simulation model.