A mass/heat flow sensor combining shear mode resonators with thermoelectrics: principles and applications

We describe a new way to monitor chemical and biological processes occurring in thin films interacting with gases and liquids, using a mass/heat flow sensor. The thin films may be metals, polymers, paints or coatings, chemical samples, proteins, catalysts, or monolayers. Changes in mass and in coating stiffness as well as heat generated by chemical or biological process on or in the film are measured with high sensitivity. We call the technique "quartz/crystal microbalance/heat conduction calorimetry" (QCM/HCC).