EQCM Electronic Quartz Crystal Microbalance
Elettra: Your Nanogravimetric Solution!
Elettra is a highly reliable quartz microbalance, suitable for nanogravimetric studies measuring mass changes in the range of ng to pg. It is designed to function both as a standalone QCM (Quartz Crystal Microbalance) and as an EQCM (Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance) when used with a potentiostat. When paired with a galvanostat potentiostat, Elettra’s quartz holder design allows only the front electrode to contact the solution being analyzed, enabling this electrode to serve as the working electrode (WE) of the potentiostat, as required in EQCM experiments. This feature, combined with an analog output proportional to the Δf variation, makes Elettra compatible with virtually any potentiostat.
When used as an EQCM, Elettra allows analysis and understanding of charge transfer that occurs during redox equilibrium reactions. The quartz crystals can be functionalized with a variety of thin films, such as organic polymers, ceramics, cells and bacteria, biomaterials, and hydrogels, enabling real-time mass measurements of processes occurring within the thin film or on its surface.
For all these reasons, Elettra is a valuable research tool for a wide range of applications, from electrochemistry to affinity mechanisms. It can measure extremely small mass changes in both liquid and gas phases, offering limitless potential for the development of innovative gas and biosensors.
The Piezoelectric Effect of Quartz
Every piezoelectric material generates an electric field when mechanically deformed. Consequently, when an external electric field is applied to a piezoelectric material, it undergoes mechanical deformation. Quartz, as a piezoelectric material, has the ability to measure the mass of thin films deposited on it since its resonance frequency depends on the mass on its surfaces. This frequency change follows the well-known Sauerbrey equation.
In solid-state voltammetry, mass changes occur on the electrode surface during redox reactions. The Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) uses the inverse piezoelectric effect of quartz to measure mass variations on the quartz electrode surface. The diagram provides a schematic representation of the Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance (EQCM). In electrochemistry, voltammetry is performed using a quartz crystal electrode, exposed to the solution in the electrochemical cell, as the Working Electrode. The EQCM configuration allows for simultaneous measurements of mass and current variations in a voltammetry experiment.
Instrument Management and Data Acquisition Software
Elettra is designed to operate independently, but it can also be connected to a PC for control, data acquisition, display, and saving, using its extremely user-friendly software compatible with MS-Windows™. The data acquisition process can be quickly managed with the PLAY, PAUSE, and STOP buttons. Acquired data can be saved in an Excel-compatible format, and graphs can be saved as bitmap images. With one click, the software can open Excel on the PC, insert all data, and create numerous graphs, ready for inclusion in documents and publications.
At any time, you can capture a snapshot of the frequency variation graph and save it as a bitmap image for use in documents and publications. The software includes the same control buttons as on the instrument, allowing remote operation. The frequency variation graph offers zoom functionality for regions of interest, and two cursors can be displayed on the graph. These cursors enable quick and easy calculation of frequency variation between any two points on the graph.
The software is extremely easy to use and includes many other helpful features, such as automatic recognition of the computer port to which the instrument is connected. BioAge develops instruments and writes software only after carefully considering the needs and requirements of end-users, ensuring that products are easy to use and include all the features and functions users expect.
Potential Applications
Elettra is capable of a wide range of applications, allowing the analysis of mass changes associated with the following phenomena and applications:
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