Abstract We present a nanospectroscopic device platform allowing simple and spatially resolved thermoelectric detection of molecular fingerprints of soft materials. Our technique makes use of a locally generated thermal gradient converted into a thermoelectric photocurrent that is read out in the underlying device. The thermal gradient is generated by an illuminated atomic force microscope tip that localizes power absorption onto the sample surface. The detection principle is illustrated using a concept device that contains a nanostructured strip of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) defined by electron beam lithography. The platform’s capabilities are demonstrated through a comparison between the spectrum obtained by on-chip thermoelectric nanospectroscopy with a nano-FTIR spectrum recorded by scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy at the same position. The subwavelength spatial resolution is demonstrated by a spectral line scan across the edge of the PMMA layer.

中文翻译：

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用于分子指纹成像的热电纳米光谱

摘要 我们提出了一种纳米光谱设备平台，可以对软材料的分子指纹进行简单且空间分辨的热电检测。我们的技术利用局部产生的热梯度转换成热电光电流，并在底层设备中读出。热梯度由发光的原子力显微镜尖端产生，该尖端将功率吸收定位到样品表面。使用包含由电子束光刻定义的聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯 (PMMA) 纳米结构条带的概念设备来说明检测原理。该平台的功能是通过将片上热电纳米光谱获得的光谱与相同位置的散射型扫描近场光学显微镜记录的纳米 FTIR 光谱进行比较来证明的。亚波长空间分辨率由横跨 PMMA 层边缘的谱线扫描证明。