Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation Monitoring: A Technique to Optimize Enzyme Use in Bioelectrocatalysis

This Concept article outlines how an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (E-QCM-D) is used as a tool to follow adsorption and inactivation processes of immobilised oxidoreductases and to determine their specific activity simultaneously. Plots that relate activity to the adsorbed mass and dissipation have distinct features that can be used to diagnose the mechanisms of long-term activity loss. Along with model plots, this article highlights some of the key advances made by using the technique and how it has been applied to biocatalytic processes in which electrons are transferred directly between an electrode and an immobilised enzyme.