Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) arrays for solution analysis

Technical Report · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1997

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/425293· OSTI ID:425293

Schneider, T W; Frye, G C; Martin, S J; Kottenstette, R J; Osbourn, G C; Bartholomew, J W; Weisenbach, L; Bohuszewicz, T V; Doughty, D H

Quartz crystal microbalances (QCMs) are piezoelectric thickness-shear-mode resonators where the resonant frequency has long been known to vary linearly with the mass of rigid layers on the surface when the device is in contact with air. This reports summarizes the results from a Laboratory Directed Research and Development effort to use an array of QCMs to measure and identify volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in water solutions. A total of nine polymer-coated QCMs were tested with varying concentrations of twelve VOCs while frequency and damping voltage were measured. Results from these experiments were analyzed using a Sandia-developed pattern recognition technique called visually empirical region of influence (VERI) developed at Sandia. The VERI analyses of data with up to 16% and 50% sensitivity drifts were carried out on an array with six signals obtained from five sensors. The results indicate that better than 98% and 88% correct chemical recognition is maintained for the 16% and 50% drifts, respectively. These results indicate a good degree of robustness for these sensor films.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Financial Management and Controller, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 425293
• Report Number(s): SAND--97-0029; ON: DE97002326
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

40 CHEMISTRY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
DATA ANALYSIS
GROUND WATER
LIQUID WASTES
MICROBALANCES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PATTERN RECOGNITION
QUALITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
SENSITIZERS
THIN FILMS
VOLATILE MATTER