Effects of compressional waves on the response of quartz crystal microbalance in contact with silicone oil droplets

Abstract

Droplet quartz crystal microbalance has been demonstrated to be a promising tool for accessing material properties of fluids as well as the diverse solid-fluid interface phenomena. However, a microliter droplet localized on the surface of the electrodes of finite lateral size may cause a nonuniform distribution of the plane velocity, which may lead to surface normal fluid flow and generate the compressional waves above the crystal surface. In the present article, we report systematical investigation on both resonance frequency and dissipation measurements with reference to the small droplets of silicone oils spreading on the surface of the quartz crystal microbalance. Significant cyclical variations in the resonant frequency and resistance of the crystal have been observed as the characteristic sizes of the silicone oil droplets are close to specific values known to favor compressional wave generation. The experimental results have been compared with the theoretical values predicted by the finite element computation associated with a simple hydrodynamic model. Good agreement between theory and experiment has been obtained. The finding indicates that the small droplets on the crystal surface can act as resonant cavities for the compressional wave generation and that the greatest propensity to exhibit periodical resonance behavior in the frequency and dissipation measurements is at droplet height of λc /2 above the crystal surface. © 2009 American Institute of Physics.