Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Language
eng
Publication Date
8-2005
Publisher
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Source Publication
Proceedings of the 2005 IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium and Exposition
Source ISSN
0-7803-9053-9
Original Item ID
doi: 10.1109/FREQ.2005.1573973
Abstract
Microcantilevers coated with a chemically sensitive layer are increasingly being used in chemical detection systems. The sensitive coating, often a polymer, absorbs specific molecules, which can be detected by monitoring the shift in the mechanical resonant frequency. Usually, the frequency shift resulting from molecular absorption is interpreted as a mass loading effect. However, mass loading is not the only effect that has an impact on the frequency shift; the viscoelastic properties of the sensitive coating are also affected by the sorption process. Sorption-induced modulus changes are typically difficult to characterize. However, it is known that the sorption of analyte molecules in a polymer coating results in the plasticization of the coating. In most cases, the polymer becomes more rubbery with increasing concentration of analyte molecules, i.e., the coating becomes softer with increasing loss modulus while the storage modulus decreases. Using a new analytical model developed for the resonant frequency expression of a hybrid microcantilever (elastic base and viscoelastic layer), the effects of the modification of the storage and loss moduli of the sensitive layer on the resonant frequency are examined. The main conclusion of this analytical study is that, even if the sensitive coating moduli are small compared to the base cantilever's Young's modulus, the effect of the change in the viscoelastic coating properties could contribute significantly to the overall frequency shift (8-23% in the simulations depending on the coating thickness, with even higher contributions for other sets of problem parameters).
Recommended Citation
Sampath, U.; Heinrich, Stephen M.; Josse, Fabien; Lochon, F.; Dufour, Isabelle; and Rebière, D., "Study of Viscoelastic Effect on the Frequency Shift of Microcantilever Chemical Sensors (proceedings)" (2005). Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications. 60.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/civengin_fac/60
Comments
Accepted version. Published as part of the proceedings of the conference, 2005 IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium and Exposition, 2005. DOI. © 2005 The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Used with permission.