Quartz Crystal Microbalance in Glove Box

QCM-I in Glove Box

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 Channels1 : Temperature controlled
Frequency Range1-80 MHz, up to the 13th
overtone for a 5 MHz Crystal
Measurement ModesFrequency 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 Temperature4 to 80 oC
(wider range options also
available e.g. -30 to 80 oC)
Temperature Stability± 0.02 oC
Temperature ControlSet via software
Fluidic and Sample
Flow Cell Volume~ 40 μl (typical with Ø14 mm crystals)
Wetted PartsPTFE, PEEK, SS,
VITON (or Kalrez ), Titanium
Sample LoadingCustomer Supplied or
Integrated Options
PumpIntegrated Peristaltic Options
Other Sample Cell OptionsElectrochemical flow-cell, Open Cuvette,
Adaptor for External Sensor Holders:
External Immersion, Remote Low-profile,
Ellipsometry, Microscopy, Custom
Physical Dimensions
( without the computer )
Electronics450mm x 260mm x 185mm; 5.5kg
Mounting Plate290mm x 15mm thick or Custom,
various fastening available
QCM Sensor Holder
+ Insulator
100mm dia. x 80mm height,
transparent protecting dome optional
Software
BioSenseUniversal software platform for
QCM & EC measurements
Import/exportExport to third party software:
Excel, JPG, BPM, WMF etc.
PC ControlUSB 2.0, Windows® 10
Electrical
Power Supply12VDC 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.