3D printed thermometers give a 4D insight at microscale

Digital - 3D printed thermocouples enable a very precise measurement of temperature and temprature changes in time

Researchers have developed a 3D printed micro-thermoelectric device, enabling four-dimensional (3D Space + Time) thermometry at the microscale. This innovative method addresses the challenges in acquiring detailed temperature fields while offering a higher spatial resolution of approximately one micrometer. The 3D printed, freestanding thermocouple probe networks have the potential to transform the way we study Joule heating and evaporative cooling in microscale systems, such as microelectrodes.

Thermometry, the measurement of temperature, plays a vital role in understanding the thermodynamics of physical, chemical, and biological processes. It is also essential in thermal management of microelectronics, which are increasingly important in healthcare, climate change, and other aspects of daily life. Researchers have been continuously working towards improving the thermometer’s sensitivity, spatial resolution, and scalability for better temperature measurements, particularly in microscopic systems.

Thermocouples (TC) have proven to be advantageous for their simple configuration and passive operation, providing minimal sample disturbance. However, there have been challenges in miniaturizing TC devices to achieve high spatial resolution thermometry.

Until now, four-dimensional thermometry at the microscale has not been possible because of technological challenges in fabricating thermocouples in three dimensions.

The introduction of 3D printing in the fabrication of micro-thermoelectric devices has overcome the limitations faced by traditional thermocouples. The bi-metal 3D printing used in creating freestanding thermocouple probe networks offers a spatial resolution of approximately one micrometer. This advancement allows for the exploration of dynamics, such as Joule heating and evaporative cooling, on microscale subjects like microelectrodes and water menisci.

Moreover, 3D printing technology eliminates design restrictions imposed by manufacturing processes, paving the way for the development of on-chip, freestanding microsensors or microelectronic devices. The newfound capability to directly measure 4D thermometry at the microscale has the potential to revolutionize the field of thermodynamics and thermal management in various applications, from scientific research to everyday life.