Size-dependent thermal properties of multiferroic ErMnO3 nanoparticles using photopyroelectric technique

Thermal properties, such as thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, thermal effusivity and specific heat capacity, of geometrically frustrated multiferroic ErMnO3, having range of grain sizes from 32 to 220 nm has been measured by the photopyroelectric technique. Our results show that phonon transport through nanocrystalline ErMnO3 is successfully suppressed by the enhanced phonon boundary scattering due to reduction in particle size. In addition internal strain in the nanosystem provides a mechanism to tune the thermal conductivity of materials. Quantification of this phenomenon may provide data and criteria for the design and fabrication of devices based on multiferroic ErMnO3 nanocrystalline materials.