Surface Cleaning of Microparticles Sensors Integrated in a Cascade Impactor via Water Droplet Displacement Using Surface Acoustic Waves

A cascade impactor equipped with microparticles sensors along with a surface cleaning system is an innovative system to measure particles and monitor air quality. In this study, it has been proven that a water droplet can be used to clean the sensors' surface inside the impactor, providing a regenerative system for continuous use. Rayleigh waves are generated on a surface acoustic wave sensor based on lithium niobate at 20 MHz exciting thus the droplet. The droplet in motion displaces with it the collected particles and drags them off the surface.