Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Quantifying Heat02:46

Quantifying Heat

55.4K
Thermal Energy Microscopically, thermal energy is the kinetic energy associated with the random motion of atoms and molecules. Temperature is a quantitative measure of “hot” or “cold”, which depends on the amount of thermal energy. When the atoms and molecules in an object are moving or vibrating quickly, they have a higher average kinetic energy (KE) (or higher thermal energy), and the object is perceived as “hot”, or it is described as being at a...
55.4K
Thermal Stress01:09

Thermal Stress

2.5K
If the temperature of an object is changed while it is prevented from expanding or contracting, the object is subjected to stress. The stress is compressive if the object expands in the absence of constraint and tensile if it contracts. This stress resulting from temperature change is known as thermal stress. It can be quite large and can cause damage. To avoid this stress, engineers may design components so they can expand and contract freely. For instance, on highways, gaps are deliberately...
2.5K
Mechanisms of Heat Transfer II01:20

Mechanisms of Heat Transfer II

3.4K
In convection, thermal energy is carried by the large-scale flow of matter. Ocean currents and large-scale atmospheric circulation, which result from the buoyancy of warm air and water, transfer hot air from the tropics toward the poles and cold air from the poles toward the tropics. The Earth’s rotation interacts with those flows, causing the observed eastward flow of air in the temperate zones. Convection dominates heat transfer by air, and the amount of available space for the airflow...
3.4K
Mechanisms of Heat Transfer01:14

Mechanisms of Heat Transfer

399
Heat transfer between the human body and its environment occurs through four main mechanisms: conduction, convection, radiation, and evaporation.
Conduction, accounting for approximately 3% of body heat loss at rest, is the process of exchanging heat between molecules of two materials in direct contact. This can result in both heat loss and gain. For instance, when the body is submerged in water, which conducts heat 20 times more effectively than air, it can either lose or gain significant...
399
Mechanisms of Heat Transfer I01:14

Mechanisms of Heat Transfer I

4.4K
Just as interesting as the effects of heat transfer on a system are the methods by which the heat transfer occur. Whenever there is a temperature difference, heat transfer occurs. It may occur rapidly, such as through a cooking pan, or slowly, such as through the walls of a picnic ice box. So many processes involve heat transfer that it is hard to imagine a situation where no heat transfer occurs. Yet, every heat transfer takes place by only three methods: conduction, convection, and radiation.
4.4K
Mechanism of heat transfer01:19

Mechanism of heat transfer

1.3K
Understanding heat transfer mechanisms is essential for understanding how our bodies maintain balance in different environmental conditions. When the environment is thermoneutral, the body is in a state of balance, neither using nor releasing energy to maintain its core temperature. However, when the environment is not thermoneutral, the body employs four heat transfer mechanisms to maintain homeostasis: conduction, convection, evaporation, and radiation. These mechanisms facilitate heat...
1.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Unlocking the potential of plastic in e-waste.

Nature reviews. Chemistry·2026
Same author

Sex differences in glucose-regulating neurohormonal pathways-potential impact for type 2 diabetes development.

Journal of the Endocrine Society·2026
Same author

LMI1 and TCP4 homologs form a functional module to regulate lateral petal asymmetric bending in Delphinium anthriscifolium.

The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology·2026
Same author

Electrostriction-driven phase instability enables giant pseudo-piezoelectricity in Hf<sub>0.5</sub>Zr<sub>0.5</sub>O<sub>2X</sub>.

Science advances·2026
Same author

Construction of Isolated Pd<sub>3</sub> Geometry on GaO<sub><i>x</i></sub>-Modified Pd/Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> as a Highly Active and Selective Catalyst for Semihydrogenation of Acetylene.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026
Same author

Genomic surveillance and molecular evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in Zhangzhou, China (2022-2025).

Infection, genetics and evolution : journal of molecular epidemiology and evolutionary genetics in infectious diseases·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 10, 2025

High-resolution Thermal Micro-imaging Using Europium Chelate Luminescent Coatings
09:01

High-resolution Thermal Micro-imaging Using Europium Chelate Luminescent Coatings

Published on: April 16, 2017

7.8K

Quantitative Characterization of Local Thermal Properties in Thermoelectric Ceramics Using "Jumping-Mode" Scanning

Denis Alikin1, Kiryl Zakharchuk2, Wenjie Xie3

  • 1CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials and Department of Physics, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal.

Small Methods
|February 13, 2023
PubMed
Summary

This study introduces a new method for measuring thermal properties in thermoelectric ceramics. Traditional techniques struggle with rough surfaces, but the jumping-mode scanning thermal microscopy (JM-SThM) allows for accurate imaging without damaging the probe. The researchers used a calibrated model to account for probe behavior and made corrections based on thermal resistance and frequency. The method was tested on real thermoelectric ceramics and showed promising results. The findings suggest that JM-SThM can be used to study local thermal transport in materials with uneven surfaces. The study supports the potential of this technique for future research in thermoelectric materials.

Keywords:
ceramicsfinite-elements modelingquantitative imagingresistive probesthermal conductivityThermal microscopyThermoelectric materialsCeramic compositesScanning probe techniques

Frequently Asked Questions

More Related Videos

Synthesis of Non-uniformly Pr-doped SrTiO3 Ceramics and Their Thermoelectric Properties
11:07

Synthesis of Non-uniformly Pr-doped SrTiO3 Ceramics and Their Thermoelectric Properties

Published on: August 15, 2015

9.9K
Characterization of Thermal Transport in One-dimensional Solid Materials
05:20

Characterization of Thermal Transport in One-dimensional Solid Materials

Published on: January 26, 2014

17.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 10, 2025

High-resolution Thermal Micro-imaging Using Europium Chelate Luminescent Coatings
09:01

High-resolution Thermal Micro-imaging Using Europium Chelate Luminescent Coatings

Published on: April 16, 2017

7.8K
Synthesis of Non-uniformly Pr-doped SrTiO3 Ceramics and Their Thermoelectric Properties
11:07

Synthesis of Non-uniformly Pr-doped SrTiO3 Ceramics and Their Thermoelectric Properties

Published on: August 15, 2015

9.9K
Characterization of Thermal Transport in One-dimensional Solid Materials
05:20

Characterization of Thermal Transport in One-dimensional Solid Materials

Published on: January 26, 2014

17.5K

Area of Science:

  • Materials science and thermoelectric materials
  • Scanning probe microscopy techniques
  • Thermal transport in ceramics

Background:

Current understanding of thermoelectric performance in composite ceramics is limited by the inability to measure local thermal properties accurately. While thermoelectric conversion shows potential for energy technologies, the variability in ceramic composites remains unexplained. Prior research has shown that oxide-based ceramics offer control over conductivity, but this potential is hindered by surface roughness. Scanning thermal microscopy (SThM) provides high-resolution thermal data, but its application is restricted to smooth surfaces. This gap motivated the need for methods that work on rougher materials. The lack of quantitative imaging on ceramics with uneven surfaces limits progress in the field. No prior work had resolved how to preserve probe integrity while imaging such materials. This uncertainty drove the development of new SThM approaches. The challenge lies in adapting SThM for practical use in thermoelectric ceramic studies.

Purpose Of The Study:

This study aimed to develop and test a method for quantitative SThM imaging of thermoelectric ceramics with rough surfaces. The specific problem addressed is the inability of traditional SThM to provide reliable data on such materials. The motivation stems from the need to understand local thermal transport in ceramics. The goal is to enable meaningful quantitative imaging despite surface irregularities. The researchers propose using a modified SThM technique to overcome these limitations. The study focuses on preserving probe integrity during imaging. The approach aims to provide accurate thermal property data at the nanoscale. This work seeks to advance the application of SThM in thermoelectric material research.

Main Methods:

The researchers used jumping-mode scanning thermal microscopy (JM-SThM) to image ceramic surfaces. This method allows the probe to lift and reposition during imaging, preserving its integrity. The JM-SThM was tested on thermoelectric ceramics with rough surfaces. A calibrated finite-element model of the SThM probe was developed. This model accounts for the distributed nature of the resistive probes. The study included experiments to validate the imaging technique. Corrections were made based on contact thermal resistance and frequency. The method was applied to real thermoelectric ceramic samples to test its effectiveness.

Main Results:

The JM-SThM technique enabled quantitative imaging of thermoelectric ceramics with rough surfaces. The experiments showed that the method preserves probe integrity during imaging. The finite-element model accurately predicted probe behavior. Corrections for thermal resistance and frequency improved data accuracy. The study demonstrated meaningful thermal property measurements. The results suggest that JM-SThM can be used for real-world applications. The method revealed non-negligible effects in resistive probe behavior. The findings support the use of JM-SThM for local thermal analysis in ceramics.

Conclusions:

The authors propose that JM-SThM is suitable for quantitative imaging of thermoelectric ceramics. The study shows that the method can handle rough surfaces without damaging the probe. The calibrated model accounts for probe-sample interactions. The corrections for thermal resistance and frequency are necessary for accurate results. The findings suggest that JM-SThM can be applied in practical studies. The method provides a way to study local thermal transport in ceramics. The authors suggest that this approach advances the use of SThM in thermoelectric research. The study supports the potential of JM-SThM for material characterization.

The method enables quantitative imaging of thermal properties on rough ceramic surfaces without damaging the probe.

The model accounts for distributed effects in resistive probes and helps correct for thermal resistance and frequency.

It affects the accuracy of thermal measurements and must be corrected for reliable results.

The frequency influences the thermal response and must be considered in data corrections.

Thermoelectric composite ceramics with nominally identical preparation routes but variable properties were tested.

The authors propose that the method can be used for meaningful quantitative imaging in thermoelectric material studies.