In recent years, the quest for developing highly sensitive and reliable gas sensing technologies has been a focal point in various scientific and industrial fields. The detection and monitoring of gases are of paramount importance in numerous applications, ranging from environmental monitoring and industrial safety to medical diagnostics and homeland security. Among the various gas sensing techniques, the Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) has emerged as a promising and versatile platform for gas sensing due to its exceptional sensitivity, rapid response, and potential for miniaturization. The QCM is a sophisticated sensing device that utilizes the piezoelectric properties of quartz crystals to detect changes in mass on its surface.
Recently, significant research efforts have been dedicated to advancing the capabilities of QCM-based gas sensing systems. Researchers have focused on enhancing the sensitivity and selectivity of the sensing devices, exploring new materials and surface coatings to improve the interaction between gas molecules and the crystal surface. Additionally, efforts have been made to reduce the size and power consumption of QCM-based gas sensors, making them more suitable for portable and wearable applications.
The versatility of QCM gas sensors is further highlighted by their capability to detect a wide range of gases, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), toxic gases, and even specific biomolecules. The QCM is also potential for analysis of drugs especially those that are volatile. Moreover, QCM-based gas sensing devices can operate under diverse environmental conditions, making them attractive for real-world applications.
The design and fabrication of QCM-based gas sensors, as well as various surface functionalization strategies to enhance selectivity and sensitivity, are still worth investigating. The QCM has proven to be a powerful and versatile tool for gas sensing applications. However, the QCM method lacks many important analytical parameters. We should continue to explore new materials, innovative coatings, and novel techniques, the sensitivity, selectivity, and miniaturization of QCM-based gas sensors are expected to improve significantly. These advancements hold the potential to revolutionize gas sensing technology, paving the way for enhanced environmental monitoring, improved safety measures, and better healthcare diagnostics in the future.
In this Research Topic, we welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, and Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:
• Surface functionalization strategies of QCM sensors
• Enhancement of sensor selectivity and sensitivity
• Ambient gas sensing with QCMs
• Understanding the reaction mechanism of the modified surface and the gases
• QCM for industrial gas sensing
• Drug analysis with QCM
Keywords:
Quartz crystal microbalance, Surface modification, Selectivity, Sensitivity, Gas sensing
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
In recent years, the quest for developing highly sensitive and reliable gas sensing technologies has been a focal point in various scientific and industrial fields. The detection and monitoring of gases are of paramount importance in numerous applications, ranging from environmental monitoring and industrial safety to medical diagnostics and homeland security. Among the various gas sensing techniques, the Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) has emerged as a promising and versatile platform for gas sensing due to its exceptional sensitivity, rapid response, and potential for miniaturization. The QCM is a sophisticated sensing device that utilizes the piezoelectric properties of quartz crystals to detect changes in mass on its surface.
Recently, significant research efforts have been dedicated to advancing the capabilities of QCM-based gas sensing systems. Researchers have focused on enhancing the sensitivity and selectivity of the sensing devices, exploring new materials and surface coatings to improve the interaction between gas molecules and the crystal surface. Additionally, efforts have been made to reduce the size and power consumption of QCM-based gas sensors, making them more suitable for portable and wearable applications.
The versatility of QCM gas sensors is further highlighted by their capability to detect a wide range of gases, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), toxic gases, and even specific biomolecules. The QCM is also potential for analysis of drugs especially those that are volatile. Moreover, QCM-based gas sensing devices can operate under diverse environmental conditions, making them attractive for real-world applications.
The design and fabrication of QCM-based gas sensors, as well as various surface functionalization strategies to enhance selectivity and sensitivity, are still worth investigating. The QCM has proven to be a powerful and versatile tool for gas sensing applications. However, the QCM method lacks many important analytical parameters. We should continue to explore new materials, innovative coatings, and novel techniques, the sensitivity, selectivity, and miniaturization of QCM-based gas sensors are expected to improve significantly. These advancements hold the potential to revolutionize gas sensing technology, paving the way for enhanced environmental monitoring, improved safety measures, and better healthcare diagnostics in the future.
In this Research Topic, we welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, and Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:
• Surface functionalization strategies of QCM sensors
• Enhancement of sensor selectivity and sensitivity
• Ambient gas sensing with QCMs
• Understanding the reaction mechanism of the modified surface and the gases
• QCM for industrial gas sensing
• Drug analysis with QCM
Keywords:
Quartz crystal microbalance, Surface modification, Selectivity, Sensitivity, Gas sensing
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.