Calibration Tools for Scanning Thermal Microscopy Probes Used in Temperature Measurement Mode

We demonstrate the functionality of a new active thermal microchip dedicated to the temperature calibration of scanning thermal microscopy (SThM) probes. The silicon micro-machined device consists in a suspended thin dielectric membrane in which a heating resistor with a circular area of 50 mu m in diameter was embedded. A circular calibration target of 10 mu m in diameter was patterned at the center and on top of the membrane on which the SThM probe can land. This target is a resistive temperature detector (RTD) that measures the surface temperature of the sample at the level of the contact area. This allows evaluating the ability of any SThM probe to measure a surface temperature in ambient air conditions. Furthermore, by looking at the thermal balance of the device, the heat dissipated through the probe and the different thermal resistances involved at the contact can be estimated. A comparison of the results obtained for two different SThM probes, microthermocouples and probes with a fluorescent particle is presented to validate the functionality of the micromachined device. Based on experiments and simulations, an analysis of the behavior of probes allows pointing out their performances and limits depending on the sample characteristics whose role is always preponderant. Finally, we also show that a smaller area of the temperature sensor would be required to assess the local disturbance at the contact point.