Dr. Ajith Thomas
Fast-Responding Thermocouple Probe
This custom-designed thermocouple probe was specifically developed for colloidal nanocrystal synthesis, where hot-injection methods cause rapid temperature fluctuations in the reaction mixture. The probe features an ultra-short response time, enabling real-time temperature monitoring—crucial for reaction optimization and reproducibility.
To ensure accurate readings, the sensing tip is miniaturized, allowing full immersion in the reaction solution without affecting the system's thermal profile. The entire outer surface is encased in borosilicate glass, rendering the probe chemically inert and thermally stable, even under high-temperature and reactive conditions.
This instrument plays a vital role in fine-tuning nucleation and growth processes, making it a valuable asset in nanomaterials research.

The left image is a photograph of the probe and the right image presents the schematic of the complete probe assembly.

Response time of the FRTC probe is 0.8 second

Temperature change during a typical hot-injection quantum dot synthesis, recorded by a conventional IKA RTD (PT1000) probe and a designed probe. The designed probe tracks the temperature change more concurrently than the conventional RTD probe, providing a clearer understanding of the process.