Short Review on Quartz Crystal Microbalance Sensors for Physical, Chemical, and Biological Applications

Abstract

Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) based sensors are used for various applications owing to advantages such as excellent accuracy and precision, rapid response, and tiny footprint. Traditional applications of QCM-based sensors include biological sensing and thin-film thickness monitoring. Recently, QCMs have been used as functional material for novel physical and chemical detections, and with improved device design. QCM-based sensors are garnering considerable attention in particulate matter sensing and electric nose application. This review covers the challenges and solutions in physical, chemical, and biological sensing applications. First, various physical sensing applications are introduced. Secondly, the toxic gas and chemical detection studies are outlined, focusing on introducing a coating method for uniform sensing film and sensing materials for a minimal damping effect. Lastly, the biological and medical sensing applications, which use the monomolecularly decorating method for biomolecule recognition and a brief description of the overall measuringsystem, are also discussed.