Patent ID: 9176012
Filing Date: 2015-11-03
Classification: G01K

Abstract:
1. A method for using a microelectronic calorimeter and environmental chamber system to determine the thermodynamic properties of at least one sample; said microelectronic calorimeter comprising a top membrane affixed below a hole in a top supporting frame, and a bottom membrane affixed above a hole in a bottom supporting frame, said top frame and said bottom frame separated by a variable gap distance; wherein for each membrane, the face of the membrane facing away from the frame is exposed to an environmental chamber with a pressure controlled gas or vapor, and wherein for one or both membranes, the face of the membrane facing towards the hole in the frame is coupled to a thermometer and a heater: wherein the environmental chamber faces of both membranes are coated with a substantially hydrophobic coating; wherein the center of both environmental chamber faces of both membranes are coated with a substantially hydrophilic coating, thus, for both membranes, producing a center hydrophilic region surrounded by a substantially hydrophobic region such that sample droplets will contract away from the substantially hydrophobic region towards the substantially hydrophilic region; said method comprising: placing a top sample on the environmental chamber face of said top membrane on said hydrophilic region, and placing a bottom sample on the environmental chamber face of said bottom membrane on said hydrophilic region; reducing said gap distance to a first gap distance so that said top sample contacts said bottom sample, creating a combined sample, but said combined sample remains confined to the substantially hydrophilic region of both membranes; further reducing said gap distance to a second gap distance so that said combined sample is squeezed onto the substantially hydrophobic region of both membranes, using at least one top or bottom thermometer and/or heater to measure the thermodynamic properties of either the top sample, the bottom sample, or the combined sample during said method; and wherein the environmental chamber faces of one or both membranes further comprise a pattern of raised ridges disposed to facilitate mixing of said top sample with said bottom sample when said gap distance is reduced from said first gap distance to said second gap distance.