Lock-in thermography versus PPE calorimetry for accurate measurements of thermophysical properties of solid samples: A comparative study

• A comparison of photopyroelectric calorimetry and infrared lock-in thermography was done.
• Applied techniques were used in order to get the thermal diffusivity of the specimens.
• Following materials were studied: a glassy-like carbon type G, LiTaO3 and II–VI crystals.
• The advantages and drawbacks of both techniques have been presented and discussed.

The aim of this paper is to compare the measurement accuracy of photopyroelectric calorimetry in back detection configuration (BPPE) and infrared lock-in thermography (LT) for thermal diffusivity measurement of solid samples. For this purpose, the following materials with well-known thermal properties have been selected: glassy carbon (type G), LiTaO3 crystal and binary II–VI semiconductors (based on CdSe and CdTe). The advantages and drawbacks of the two techniques have been analyzed both theoretically and experimentally.