QCM-I Quartz Crystal Microbalanace With Impedance Measurement
The QCM-I measuring unit is a high-sensitivity mass sensor, which measures the change in frequency of a quartz crystal resonator and as a label free biosensor it measures the “wet mass” of the adsorbed layer in processes occurring at or near the sensor surface. The measuring principle is based on impedance analysis of the quartz crystal. The resonant frequency and the bandwidth of the resonant conductance curve are determined. The bandwidth or full width at half maximum, ( FWHM ) is direct correlation with the quality factor ( Q ) which is by definition the inverse of the well known dissipation ( D ).
Main features:
The BioSense software performs full control of the QCM-I instrument. Two measurement modes are available:
The heart of the Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) instrument is a thin AT-cut quartz crystal with an electrode on each side.
Quartz crystal sensors with Au or with ITO electrodes and a variety of pre-coatings are available. The modular sensor holder allows using either 14 mm diameter or 1” diameter quartz crystals.
In conventional QCM, the electrodes are typically made of gold which is an ideal electrode material except when applying for electrochemical measurements or for optical investigations using inverse optical microscopes. On the QCM-ITO sensor, transparent ITO electrodes are used and hence providing a more stable electrochemical measurement and can be used for optical investigation as well. For sensor details see separate sensor data sheet.
Main features:
- Both the frequency and the quality of resonance (FWHM or bandwidth or dissipation) are measured
- Different harmonics (up to the 13th overtone at 5MHz crystals) can be quickly and sequentially measured
- Temperature control from 20°C to 80°C (± 0,05 °C) is included
- EC measurement module is optionally available with ITO-QCM sensors
- Modular sensor holder up to 4 measuring channels
- External PC with Windows® 7; communication with QCM-I via USB
The BioSense software performs full control of the QCM-I instrument. Two measurement modes are available:
- Resonance: Measurement of resonance curve and calculation of the resonance frequency & FWHM up to 70 MHz
- QCM-t: Continuous measurement of the resonance parameters and the temperature of the flow-cell.
The heart of the Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) instrument is a thin AT-cut quartz crystal with an electrode on each side.
Quartz crystal sensors with Au or with ITO electrodes and a variety of pre-coatings are available. The modular sensor holder allows using either 14 mm diameter or 1” diameter quartz crystals.
In conventional QCM, the electrodes are typically made of gold which is an ideal electrode material except when applying for electrochemical measurements or for optical investigations using inverse optical microscopes. On the QCM-ITO sensor, transparent ITO electrodes are used and hence providing a more stable electrochemical measurement and can be used for optical investigation as well. For sensor details see separate sensor data sheet. Product Category: Quartz Crystal Microbalance
Industry: Life Sciences, Particle and surface science
Supplier: Gamry, MicroVacuum
Specifications
TECHNICAL INFORMATION |
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| Measuring Principle | The QCM-I unit is a high sensitivity mass sensor which measures the change in frequency of a quartz crystal resonator and as a label free biosensor it measures the “wet mass” of the adsorbed layer in processes occurring at or near the sensor surface. The measuring principle is based on impedance analysis of the quartz crystal. The resonant frequency (fres) and the bandwidth of the resonant conductance curve are determined. The bandwidth or full width at half maximum (FWHM) is in direct correlation with the quality factor (Q) which is by definition the inverse of the well known dissipation (D). |
| Measurement Channels | 1-4 |
| Frequency Range | 1-80 MHz,up to the 13th overtone for a 5 MHz Crystal |
| Working Temperature | 4° C to 80° C, controlled manually or via software, stability ± 0.02° C |
| Sample Loading | Sample injection with external syringe or peristaltic pump unit controlled manually or by BioSense software, and Rheodyne Model 9725 manual injector valve, or Rheodyne MX series semiautomatic switching valve. Optional external Auto sampler unit is available |
| Flow Cell Volume | ~ 40 µl (typical with Ø14 mm crystals) |
| Typical Flow Rates | 0.01µl/min - 35ml/min with external syringe pump, Syringe size 1-60 ml |
| Sample Volume | 1 to 2000 µl (depends on installed loop volume) |
| Wetted parts | PTFE, PEEK, SS, VITON or Kalrez |
MEASUREMENT SENSITIVITY |
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| Standard Resonance Frequency sensitivity | ~2 x 10-1 Hz |
| Standard Dissipation Sensitivity in Liquid | ~ 1 x 10-7 |
| Mass Sensitivity in Liquid | ≤ 1 ng/ cm2 |
SENSORS |
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| Sensor Crystal | 5 MHz, AT-cut, modular sensor holder accommodates either 14 mm or 1” inch diameter crystals See more details inQCM sensor datasheets. |
SOFTWARE |
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| BioSense | Universal software platform for OWLS, QCM & EC measurements See more details in BioSense datasheet. |
| Import/Export of the measured data | Between separate BioSense software and export to third party software Excel, JPG, BPM, WMF etc. |
| PC Requirement | USB 2.0, works with MS Windows® 7 or 8 or 10 |
ELECTRICAL |
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| Supply Voltage | DC power supply with universal input voltage from 100V to 240V AC & 50 to 60 Hz. |