Quartz Crystal Microbalances (QCMs) are highly sensitive measuring instruments that are used to analyse mass changes on surfaces in the nanogram range. They are based on the piezoelectric effect of a quartz crystal, whose resonance frequency changes due to the adsorption of molecules on its surface. By measuring these frequency changes, conclusions can be drawn about the mass, film thickness and mechanical properties of applied coatings. QCM with dissipation (QCM-D) in particular extends this method by additionally analysing energy losses during oscillation and thus providing information about the viscoelastic properties of samples. This technique is particularly suitable for real-time observation of molecular interactions in liquids, gases or complex environments.
The QSense Explorer from Biolin Scientific is a sophisticated QCM-D system specifically designed to analyse molecular interactions at surfaces and interfaces under a wide range of conditions. It enables the simultaneous measurement of mass, film thickness and viscoelastic properties of both solid and soft films. The device allows maximum flexibility in performing and customising experiments, so that users can freely intervene during the measurement and easily switch between different setups.
The QCM's sensors are designed to provide stable, reliable and reproducible data. The device supports both flow and level measurements in the liquid phase and is resistant to aggressive chemicals. Sample volumes as low as 40 μl are possible in stagnation measurement, while at least 200 μl are required in flow mode, whereby flow rates between 25 and 150 μl/min can be set. With an acquisition rate of 300 data points per second, the system is also suitable for high-resolution real-time measurements.
The software specially developed for QSense optimises the entire analysis process. QSoft takes care of reliable data acquisition, while Dfind provides an intuitive and powerful platform for data analysis. Functions such as autoplotting enable the visualisation of measurement results across the entire analysis process, and various evaluation methods - including frequency and dissipation shifts, rates of change and slopes - facilitate the extraction of relevant information. The guided modelling module accompanies the user step by step through the data analysis and thus also supports less experienced users with complex evaluations.
If you need to use the QCM, please contact the person responsible for the device.
