Dixon M.C., Gormally M.V., Johal M.S.
Q-Sense Inc a Division of Biolin Inc, US
Keywords: mass, microbalance, polymer, QCM-D
There is a growing need for new technologies to quantitatively measure the surface properties of material interfaces. One technique in particular, the Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation Monitoring (QCM-D), fulfills the need for monitoring real-time dynamic adsorption and desorption phenomena. Capable of operating in both gas and liquid environments in real-time, QCM-D provides a powerful approach to analyze the in situ thickness, structural, and viscoelastic properties of both film formation and reactions within the film itself. This presentation will focus on the application of QCM-D to monitoring the light induced degradation of a polymer film with interesting photo-physical properties. We found that light of differing wavelengths and intensity exhibited a response from the QCM-D sensor alone and that this response could be subtracted to effectively cancel out the signal changes as a result of light irradiation. This allowed us to monitor the extent of degradation of the polymer film poly (2,5-methoxy-propyloxy sulfonate phenylene vinylene) (MPS-PPV) by UV light. Based on numerous control experiments we were able to determine fundamental light intensity / QCM-D signal correlations that led us to believe there may be potential for the QCM-D sensor to act as a light transducer.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 1, Nanotechnology 2009: Fabrication, Particles, Characterization, MEMS, Electronics and Photonics
Published: May 3, 2009
Pages: 364 - 367
Industry sector: Advanced Materials & Manufacturing
Topic: Materials Characterization & Imaging
ISBN: 978-1-4398-1782-7