The working principle of thermal methods involves the application of heat to induce physical or chemical changes in materials. The specific temperature and environment (e.g., vacuum, inert gas) are carefully controlled to achieve desired outcomes. For example:
In thermal decomposition, the precursor material is heated until it breaks down into nanoscale constituents. In thermal evaporation, the material is vaporized and then condensed to form a thin film. In thermal annealing, controlled heating modifies the material's structure and properties.
