Thermal conductivity of nanoporous bismuth thin films

The thermal conductivity of nanoporous Bi thin films has been experimentally determined. Samples are fabricated by a liquid phase deposition, and their thermal conductivities are measured by a differential 3ω method. Nanoporous Bi thin films exhibit an order-of-magnitude reduction in thermal conductivity compared to that of solid films, most likely the result of a reduction in phonon mean free path. When porous Bi films are exposed to a hydrogen plasma, thermal conductivity measurements reveal no variation with extent of porosity, while electrical conductivity is much more sensitive to porosity, suggesting the possibility of independent control of these two intrinsic properties.