Influence of strain on thermal conductivity of silicon nitride thin films

M. T. Alam, M. P. Manoharan, M. A. Haque, C. Muratore, A. Voevodin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

73 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present a micro-electro-mechanical system-based experimental technique to measure thermal conductivity of freestanding ultra-thin films of amorphous silicon nitride (Si 3N 4) as a function of mechanical strain. Using a combination of infrared thermal micrography and multi-physics simulation, we measured thermal conductivity of 50 nm thick silicon nitride films to observe it decrease from 2.7 W (m K) 1at zero strain to 0.34 W (m K) 1at about 2.4% tensile strain. We propose that such strong strainthermal conductivity coupling is due to strain effects on fractionphonon interaction that decreases the dominant hopping mode conduction in the amorphous silicon nitride specimens.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number045001
JournalJournal of Micromechanics and Microengineering
Volume22
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2012

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Influence of strain on thermal conductivity of silicon nitride thin films'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this