Fabrication of nanostructured samples for the investigation of near field radiation transfer

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Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Mühendislik Fakültesi, Makina Mühendisliği Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2012

Öğrenci: ZAFER ARTVİN

Danışman: HANİFE TUBA OKUTUCU ÖZYURT

Özet:

Radiative heat transfer in nanostructures with sub-wavelength dimensions can exceed that predicted by Planck's blackbody distribution. This increased effect is due to the tunneling of infrared radiation between nanogaps, and can allow the eventual development of nano-thermo-photo-voltaic (Nano-TPV) cells for energy generation from low temperature heat sources. Although near field radiation effects have been discussed for many years, experimental verification of these effects is very limited so far. In this study, silica coated silicon wafer sample chips have been manufactured by using MEMS fabrication methods for testing the near field radiation effects. A variety of samples with 1×1, 2×2 and 5×5 mm2 area, and with 25 nm, 50 nm, 100 nm and 200 nm (nano-gap) separations have been prepared. 3D structures with vacuum gaps have been obtained by bonding of the silica coated wafers. The samples have been tested in an experimental setup by a collaborative group at Özyegin University, İstanbul. An increase in the net radiation heat transfer with decreasing nano-gap size has been reported by the Özyeğin group who used these samples in a parallel study. The thesis outlines the micro-fabrication techniques used for the sample preparation. Also, the manufacturing problems we have faced during this research program are discussed.