Electrospray-assisted nanocalorimetry measurements

Electrospray is demonstrated for the deposition of a variety of materials over a well-defined area for chip-based nanocalorimeter measurements. Electrospray is simple and versatile; it greatly simplifies sample deposition and expands applications for chip-based calorimetry. This figure shows aluminum nanoparticles electrosprayed onto the nanocalorimeter sensor chip. •Sample deposition by electrospray has been demonstrated for chip-based nanocalorimeter measurements.•Greatly simplifies sample deposition for small scale thermal analysis and expands applications for nanocalorimetry.•Samples include nanoparticles, nanofibers, chalcogenide Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST), ammonium nitrate and the lipid DPPC. The deposition of uniform, small and properly located samples onto micro- and nano-calorimetry sensors remains a challenge and is a critical aspect of performing these measurements. Here, we describe an electrospray method to deposit a variety of materials over a well-defined area of a chip-based calorimeter for small scale thermal measurements. Electrospray provides a versatile technique for sample deposition. In this work, we demonstrate the deposition of a number of samples, including insoluble inorganic materials (aluminum nanoparticles and Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST)), soluble inorganic materials (ammonium nitrate), biomaterials (lipids) and soluble organic materials (polyethylene oxide films and polyacrylonitrile formed into fibers) onto chip nanocalorimeters. This technique greatly simplifies sample deposition and expands applications for chip-based calorimetry.