VAPOR DETECTION USING RESONATING MICROCANTILEVERS

Citation
T. Thundat et al., VAPOR DETECTION USING RESONATING MICROCANTILEVERS, Analytical chemistry, 67(3), 1995, pp. 519-521
Citations number
19
Categorie Soggetti
Chemistry Analytical
Journal title
ISSN journal
00032700
Volume
67
Issue
3
Year of publication
1995
Pages
519 - 521
Database
ISI
SICI code
0003-2700(1995)67:3<519:VDURM>2.0.ZU;2-U
Abstract
Changes in the resonance frequency of microcantilevers due to adsorpti on of analyte vapor on exposed surfaces is shown to provide a novel me ans for detection of the analyte. Frequency changes can be due to mass loading or adsorption-induced changes in cantilever spring constant. Sensitization to water vapor is demonstrated by coating cantilever sur faces with hygroscopic materials, such as phosphoric acid, Cantilevers coated with a thin gelatin film exhibit high sensitivity and a linear response with changes in relative humidity, apparently due to changes in the spring constant of the coated cantilever. In addition to frequ ency response, static cantilever detection also changes with vapor ads orption. Both phenomena can be used to detect adsorbed vapors with pic ogram mass resolution.