Thermodynamics of small systems by nanocalorimetry: From physical to biological nano-objects

• Published in: Thermochimica acta Vol. 492; no. 1; pp. 16 - 28
• Main Authors: Garden, J.-L., Guillou, H., Lopeandia, A.F., Richard, J., Heron, J.-S., Souche, G.M., Ong, F.R., Vianay, B., Bourgeois, O.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier B.V 10.08.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: ac-calorimetry; Analytical biochemistry: general aspects, technics, instrumentation; Analytical chemistry; Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Physics; Chemical and thermal methods; Chemical Physics; Chemistry; Condensed Matter; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heat capacity; High sensitivity; Instrumentation and Detectors; Mesoscopic Systems and Quantum Hall Effect; Micro-fabrication technologies; Nanocalorimetry; Non-equilibrium thermodynamics; Physics; Small systems; Soft Condensed Matter; Small systems; Micro-fabrication technologies; High sensitivity; Nanocalorimetry; ac-calorimetry; Non-equilibrium thermodynamics; Heat capacity; Enzyme; Tetrafluoroethylene polymer; Immobilization; Protein; Glycosylases; Thermal properties; Basic protein; Glycosidases; Microequipment; Nonequilibrium thermodynamics; Hydrolases; Calorimetry; Thermal analysis; Lysozyme; Nanotechnology
• ISSN: 0040-6031; 1872-762X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tca.2009.02.012

Membrane based nanocalorimeters have been developed for ac-calorimetry experiments. It has allowed highly sensitive measurements of heat capacity from solid state physics to complex systems like polymers and proteins. In this article we review what has been developed in ac-calorimetry toward the measurement of very small systems. Firstly, at low temperature ac-calorimetry using silicon membrane permits the measurement of superconducting sample having geometry down to the nanometer scale. New phase transitions have been found in these nanosystems illustrated by heat capacity jumps versus the applied magnetic field. Secondly, a sensor based on ultra-thin polymer membrane will be presented. It has been devoted to thermal measurements of nanomagnetic systems at intermediate temperature (20–300 K). Thirdly, three specific polyimide membrane based sensors have been designed for room temperature measurements. One is devoted to phase transitions detection in polymer, the second one to protein folding/unfolding studies and the third one will be used for the study of heat release in living cells. The possibility of measuring systems out of equilibrium will be emphasized.