Thermodynamics of small systems by nanocalorimetry: From physical to biological nano-objects

Membrane based nanocalorimeters have been developed for ac-calorimetry experiments. It has allowed highly sensitive measurements of heat capacity from solid state physics to complex systems like polymers and proteins. In this article we review what has been developed in ac-calorimetry toward the mea...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Thermochimica acta 2009-08, Vol.492 (1), p.16-28
Main Authors: Garden, J.-L., Guillou, H., Lopeandia, A.F., Richard, J., Heron, J.-S., Souche, G.M., Ong, F.R., Vianay, B., Bourgeois, O.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ac-calorimetry
Analytical biochemistry: general aspects, technics, instrumentation
Analytical chemistry
Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry
Biological and medical sciences
Biological Physics
Chemical and thermal methods
Chemical Physics
Chemistry
Condensed Matter
Exact sciences and technology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Heat capacity
High sensitivity
Instrumentation and Detectors
Mesoscopic Systems and Quantum Hall Effect
Micro-fabrication technologies
Nanocalorimetry
Non-equilibrium thermodynamics
Physics
Small systems
Soft Condensed Matter
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Summary:Membrane based nanocalorimeters have been developed for ac-calorimetry experiments. It has allowed highly sensitive measurements of heat capacity from solid state physics to complex systems like polymers and proteins. In this article we review what has been developed in ac-calorimetry toward the measurement of very small systems. Firstly, at low temperature ac-calorimetry using silicon membrane permits the measurement of superconducting sample having geometry down to the nanometer scale. New phase transitions have been found in these nanosystems illustrated by heat capacity jumps versus the applied magnetic field. Secondly, a sensor based on ultra-thin polymer membrane will be presented. It has been devoted to thermal measurements of nanomagnetic systems at intermediate temperature (20–300 K). Thirdly, three specific polyimide membrane based sensors have been designed for room temperature measurements. One is devoted to phase transitions detection in polymer, the second one to protein folding/unfolding studies and the third one will be used for the study of heat release in living cells. The possibility of measuring systems out of equilibrium will be emphasized.
ISSN:0040-6031
1872-762X
DOI:10.1016/j.tca.2009.02.012