MicroVacuum’s high performance QCM-I device is a Quartz Crystal Microbalance System with impedance analyses and dissipation monitoring (QCM -D), the Glove-Box QCM-I takes the high performance QCM-I instrument into a format suitable for mounting in a Glove-box or controlled atmosphere chamber and also includes the option of a wider temperature range e.g. between -30 °C and 80 °C.
The QCM-I is a high-sensitivity, mass sensing instrument, which probes the interactions of molecules, polymers and biological assemblies with surfaces, label-free and in real time. The measurement can be used to determine the hydrated mass and rigidity of nm to micron scale layers at the sensor surface in solution, changes in thin films under a controlled atmosphere, as well as fluid properties.
The measurement principle is based on impedance analysis of a quartz crystal sensor to determine the resonant frequency and bandwidth of the resonant conductance curve; fundamental and overtones. The bandwidth, or full width at half maximum (FWHM) is directly correlated to the dissipation (D.)
Glove-Box QCM-I Main Features
- Measures frequency and FWHM (or dissipation) at fundamental frequency and overtones to 80 MHz
- Temperature control 4 to 80°C (± 0.02 °C), with option for wider range e.g. -30 to 80°C
- Electrochemical measurement options
- Mounting Plate configurations for coupling to Glove-Box, including feedthroughs for electrical connections and/or fluidic tubing
- Electronics, control modules and PC outside glovebox
QCM Sensors and Holders
- Modular sensor holders for a variety of sensor types, metal electrodes and coatings
- Electrochemical Flow-cell with a Pt-disc counter and leak-free Ag/AgCl reference electrode
- External sensor-holder modules are also available for a range of uses
Control and Measurement
The BioSense software is a fully-functioned application platform, common to the whole analytical instrument range. It provides full control of the QCM-I instrument, User accounts, data acquisition and display, storage and management, data processing and export. Addition of the electrochemical module incorporates control of the potentiostat and allows synchronized data acquisition.
Application areas
- Glove-box Processing
- Battery Development
- Low Temperature Measurement
- Low Humidity Electrochemistry
- Thin Film Characterization
- Environmental Chamber Operation
- and many more.
Specification of Glove-Box QCM-I
| Technical Information | |
| Measurement Channels | 1 : Temperature controlled |
| Frequency Range | 1-80 MHz, up to the 13th overtone for a 5 MHz Crystal |
| Measurement Modes | Frequency Scan, Resonance Spectra, QCM(t), QCM(t)-EC, EC |
| Resonance Frequency Sensitivity in Liquid | ≤ 2 x 10-1 Hz |
| Dissipation Sensitivity in Liquid | ≤ 1 x 10-7 |
| Mass Sensitivity in Liquid * | ≤ 1 ng/ cm-2 |
| Parameters Recorded for Each Overtone | Resonance Curve, Frequency, ∆Frequency, FWHM, ∆FWHM, Q, Dissipation, ∆Dissipation, Temperature, etc. |
| Temperature Control | |
| Working Temperature | 4 to 80 oC (wider range options also available e.g. -30 to 80 oC) |
| Temperature Stability | ± 0.02 oC |
| Temperature Control | Set via software |
| Fluidic and Sample | |
| Flow Cell Volume | ~ 40 μl (typical with Ø14 mm crystals) |
| Wetted Parts | PTFE, PEEK, SS, VITON (or Kalrez ), Titanium |
| Sample Loading | Customer Supplied or Integrated Options |
| Pump | Integrated Peristaltic Options |
| Other Sample Cell Options | Electrochemical flow-cell, Open Cuvette, Adaptor for External Sensor Holders: External Immersion, Remote Low-profile, Ellipsometry, Microscopy, Custom |
| Physical Dimensions ( without the computer ) | |
| Electronics | 450mm x 260mm x 185mm; 5.5kg |
| Mounting Plate | 290mm x 15mm thick or Custom, various fastening available |
| QCM Sensor Holder + Insulator | 100mm dia. x 80mm height, transparent protecting dome optional |
| Software | |
| BioSense | Universal software platform for QCM & EC measurements |
| Import/export | Export to third party software: Excel, JPG, BPM, WMF etc. |
| PC Control | USB 2.0, Windows® 10 |
| Electrical | |
| Power Supply | 12VDC and 24VDC power supply with universal input voltage (100V-240V AC / 50-60 Hz) |
*The Sauerbrey relation is assumed to be valid. All specifications are subject to change without notice.
Order the Glove Box QCM-I (QCM-D) online or contact us for more information.