The frequency shift (Δf) measured by QCM-D reflects mass change at the surface. A decrease in Δf indicates mass uptake, and vice versa. When molecules adsorb onto the sensor surface, the sensed mass will increase and cause a decrease in Δf. The magnitude of the shift is related to the mass of the adsorbed layer.
The Dissipation shift (ΔD) provides information about the viscoelastic properties of the adsorbed layer. As a rule of thumb, the higher the D, the softer and/or thicker the layer
The detection range of QSense technology spans from nanometers to micrometers, depending on the viscoelasticity of the applied film or medium. Molecules and entities that are typically analyzed are for example lipids, proteins and other biomolecules, surfactants, polymers, nanoparticles and cells.
