ROW: Development of the Quartz Crystal Microbalance for Sensors and Polymer Characterization

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The quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) can be used to monitor the formation of coatings at solution-metal interfaces, the adsorption of species from solution onto polymer supports, and solvation and ion-exchange reactions in polymer thin films. The choice of polymer coating and film architecture are crucial to the design of QCM-based sensors for analytical applications. The apparatus will be constructed and exploratory research will begin. The first objective of the proposed research is to establish boundary conditions for designing polymer-coated quartz crystals for QCM-based sensors. The second objective is to determine the applicability of the QCM for obtaining fundamental insights into polymer adsorption kinetics and polymer adlayer structure. It will be determined whether the QCM can be used to measure the microviscosity of polymers at the polymer-metal interface, whether the QCM can be used to monitor swelling or ion transport in non-rigid polymer films, and whether the device can be used to monitor polymer adsorption directly. This is a Career Advancement Award under the Research Opportunity for Women Program.