Response increase of antenna-coupled nanothermocouples by thermal insulation

The authors present a 2.5-fold increase in the open-circuit voltage response of antenna-coupled nanothermocouples (ACNTCs) by thermally insulating them from the SiO2/Si substrate using an oxide membrane suspended over a cavity formed from the Si substrate. Polarization-dependent measurements are presented and compared to simulation results. The thermal response of the ACNTCs increases 2.5-fold when they are thermally insulated from the substrate by the cavity. The authors also show that the polarization-dependent response, and hence the polarization ratio, depends on the depth of the cavity. Published by the AVS.