Laser flash-Raman spectroscopy method for the measurement of the thermal properties of micro/nano wires

This paper introduces a new method for measuring the thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity of individual micro/nano wires using Raman spectroscopy. This method uses a focused short pulsed laser and a continuous-wave laser in a Raman spectroscopy system as the local heater, Raman signal excitation source, and temperature sensor. Unsteady and steady thermal conduction models are used to get two independent equations for the thermal diffusivity (alpha) and laser absorptivity (eta). This new method is verified by comparing experimental results for graphite carbon fiber with measurement using the 3 omega method. The method was then used to measure the temperature dependent thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity of individual carbon nanotubes. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.