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Miniaturized Sample Preparation for Transmission Electron Microscopy
Published on: July 27, 2018
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High-resolution capacitance dilatometry of microscopically thin samples using a miniature dilatometer
R Küchler1, S N Panja2, S Wirth1
1Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids, Nöthnitzer Straße 40, 01187 Dresden, Germany.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|February 12, 2026
Summary
We developed a high-resolution capacitance dilatometer for characterizing ultrathin quantum materials. This new method enables precise measurements of thermal expansion and magnetostriction in nanoscale crystals, advancing the study of exotic quantum phenomena.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Quantum Materials Science
Background:
- Quantum materials exhibit exotic phenomena like superconductivity and topological order.
- These materials often exist as ultrathin crystals unsuitable for conventional characterization methods.
- Precise measurement of physical properties is crucial for understanding emergent quantum behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel, high-resolution capacitance dilatometer for characterizing ultrathin quantum materials.
- To enable precise measurements of thermal expansion and magnetostriction in reduced-dimensional systems.
- To expand the applicability of dilatometry to nanoscale crystalline samples.
Main Methods:
- Engineered a high-resolution capacitance dilatometer with a modified sample-mounting configuration.
- Enabled in-plane crystallographic measurements for samples < 500 μm thickness.
- Validated performance using silver, EuB6, and AgCrS2 single crystals with thicknesses down to 40 μm.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated reliable high-resolution thermal expansion and magnetostriction measurements on ultrathin quantum materials.
- Successfully characterized samples significantly below conventional dilatometry limits.
- Confirmed the effectiveness of the modified dilatometer across various material types and properties.
Conclusions:
- The developed capacitance dilatometer is a powerful tool for investigating quantum materials.
- This advancement significantly broadens the scope of dilatometry for reduced-dimensional quantum systems.
- Enables deeper understanding of emergent phenomena in nanoscale materials.
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