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

石英晶体微天平（QCM）可用于监测溶液-金属界面涂层的形成、溶液中物质在聚合物载体上的吸附以及聚合物薄膜中的溶剂化和离子交换反应。聚合物涂层和薄膜结构的选择对于设计用于分析应用的基于qcm的传感器至关重要。设备将被建造，探索性研究将开始。本研究的第一个目标是建立用于qcm传感器的聚合物包覆石英晶体设计的边界条件。第二个目标是确定QCM在获得聚合物吸附动力学和聚合物层结构的基本见解方面的适用性。将确定QCM是否可用于测量聚合物-金属界面处的聚合物微粘度，QCM是否可用于监测非刚性聚合物薄膜中的膨胀或离子输运，以及该装置是否可用于直接监测聚合物吸附。这是女性研究机会项目下的职业进步奖。

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.