Quartz crystal microbalance, combining

Bulk and surface imprinting strategies are straightforward tools to generate artificial antibodies. Combined with transducers such as QCM (quartz crystal microbalance), SAW (surface acoustic wave resonator), IDC (interdigital capacitor) or SPR (surface plasmon resonator) they yield powerful chemical sensors for a very broad range of analytes. 

Such approximation is valid when the thickness of the polymeric layer is small compared to die thickness of die crystal, and the measured frequency change is small with respect to the resonant frequency of the unloaded crystal. Mass changes up to 0.05% of die crystal mass commonly meet this approximation. In die absence of molecular specificity, EQCM cannot be used for molecular-level characterization of surfaces. Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance devices also hold promise for the task of affinity-based chemical sensing, as they allow simultaneous measurements of both tile mass and die current. The principles and capabilities of EQCM have been reviewed (67,68). The combination of EQCM widi scanning electrochemical microscopy has also been reported recently for studying die dissolution and etching of various thin films (69). The recent development of a multichannel quartz crystal microbalance (70), based on arrays of resonators, should further enhance die scope and power of EQCM. 

Saloniemi H, Kemell M, Ritala M, Leskela M (2000) PbTe electrodeposition studied by combined electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance and cyclic voltammetry. J Electroanal Chem 482 139-148... 

Lincot D, Ortega-Borges R (1992) Chemical bath deposition of cadmium sulfide thin films. In situ growth and structural studies by Combined Quartz Crystal Microbalance and Electrochemical Impedance techniques. J Electrochem Soc 139 1880-1889... 

The process of Pb deposition depends on the presence of adsorbed species. On polycrystalline gold, in HCIO4 acid solutions, a combined quartz crystal microbalance and probe beam deflection methods have pointed to three stages of the process - (1) water molecules release from gold surface, (2) metal UPD associated with adsorbed OH ions replacement, followed by (3) water formation [274]. In the presence of adsorbed anions or organic... 

Variations on the vertical dipping technique have been utilized to construct films containing divalent metal ions. For example, the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) has been used to evaluate the horizontal lifting method of CdSt LB Film construction (26). In this method, the QCM quartz plate was touched to monolayers compressed on a subphase and lifted horizontally. Y-type transfer (transfer ratio of 1) was demonstrated with two centrosymmetric monolayers deposited for each cycle. A combination of the vertical and horizontal dipping techniques has been utilized to prepare multilayer films from an amphiphilic porphyrin compound (27). 

Exchange of species between a solution and a polymer film is an established means of probing solution composition. The quartz crystal microbalance can monitor such exchange processes with high sensitivity. When combined with selectivity via electrochemical control and appropriate choice of polymer, the EQCM becomes an attractive sensor. In order that the potential advantages of the EQCM can be realised, certain criteria must be met. 

It can be appreciated that, now that the technical aspects are sufficiently developed, many further applications of SECM to study microvolumes (and less) of solution and microscopic characteristics of surfaces can be expected. Combination with non-electrochemical time-resolved techniques such as the quartz crystal microbalance will also be fruitful. 

This phenomenon has been studied by different combined electrochemical techniques such as -> spectroelec-trochemistry, radioactive -> tracer method, -> electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance, conductivity etc. by varying the experimental parameters, e.g., film thickness, the composition and concentration of the electrolyte solutions, the wait-time at different waiting potentials, and temperature [iii-x]. Several interpretations have been developed beside the ESCR model. The linear dependence of the anodic peak potential on the logarithm of the time of cathodic electrolysis (wait-time) -when the polymer in its reduced state is an insulator -has been interpreted by using the concept of electric percolation [ix]. Other effects have also been taken into account such as incomplete reduction [vii], slow sorp-tion/desorption of ions and solvent molecules [iii-vi], variation of the equilibrium constants of -+polarons and - bipolarons [viii], dimerization [xi], heterogeneous effects [xii], etc. 

Through the combination of SPR with a - poten-tiostat, SPR can be measured in-situ during an electrochemical experiment (electrochemical surface plasmon resonace, ESPR). Respective setups are nowadays commercially available. Voltammetric methods, coupled to SPR, are advantageously utilized for investigations of - conducting polymers, thin film formation under influence of electric fields or potential variation, as well as - electropolymerization, or for development of -> biosensors and - modified electrodes. Further in-situ techniques, successfully used with SPR, include electrochemical - impedance measurements and -+ electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance. 

Electrochemical quartz-crystal microbalance (EQCM) methods (which allow for high-precision measurements of mass changes during the course of polymerization and doping) are very effective for discriminating between counter-ion and co-ion fluxes and fluxes of solvent molecules, when combined with simultaneous CV measurements. 

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