On-chip thermal calibration with 8 CB liquid crystal of micro-thermal device

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Abstract
A temperature sensor integrated on a micro-device for biological experiments requires affordable, rapid and easy thermal calibration. However, such calibration cannot usually be done directly under the microscope, a fact that impedes biological experiments. We present in this paper an inexpensive and rapid method to achieve thermal calibration directly under the microscope. It is based on the use of a thermotropic liquid crystal: the 4-n-octyl-4-cyanobiphenyl (8 CB) exhibiting an isothermal phase change at 313 K that can be monitored optically. We demonstrate the advantages of this method by calibrating the temperature sensor integrated onto a micro-device.