Environmental applications of the quartz crystal microbalance

Abstract

The various publications concerning the Quartz Crystal Microbalance were reviewed and analyzed, focusing on environmental aspects and their implications. Relevant government agencies were contacted in an attempt to discover the current and potential future uses of the Quartz Crystal Microbalance. The Quartz Crystal Microbalance functions on the principle of the piezoelectric effect. The rate of vibration of the crystal depends on the mass of the crystal, and the type of vibration of the crystal is dependent on the placement of the electrodes providing the current on the crystal. The mass of a substance can be measured by bonding the substance to the surface of the quartz crystal and tracking the change in frequency