Scanning Thermal Microscopy

The SThM Scanning Thermal Microscopy – (comprising controller, software and probes) enables most AFMs to be able to do temperature mapping of their sample with 0.1ºC resolution.

The 4µm x 8µm image shown here utilizes the scanning thermal microscopy (SThM) function on a carbon fiber – epoxy composite sample. The sample was cut and polished to form a smooth surface. The height image (left) shows a number of carbon fibers, while the SThM image (right) shows the change in probe temperature on the two materials due to their differences in thermal conductivity. This sample demonstrates the high lateral-resolution capability of the SThM technique.