Size evaluation of the fine morphological features of porous nanostructures from the perturbation of heat transfer by a pore filling agent

• New approach for size evolution of porous media fine features was introduced.
• Thermal conductivity measurements with empty and filled pore network was made.
• Values of thermal conductivities with heat transfer models were associated.
• Size values of constrictions interconnecting nanocrystals in porous Si were obtained.

An approach for the size evaluation of fine morphological features of fractal-like porous materials is described. The method is based on the measurements of thermal conductivity of porous layers with empty and filled pore networks. Being associated to a heat transfer model, the experimentally obtained values of thermal conductivity allow the size evaluation of very small structural constrictions ensuring interconnections between the main particles constituting the porous material. The method is applied to determine the size values of the structural constrictions interconnecting silicon nanocrystals forming meso-porous silicon layers.

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