PMN-PT single crystal resonators for sensing acetone vapors

This paper compares frequency measurements in lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate (PMN-PT) resonators with conventional quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) resonators when exposed to acetone vapors under identical test conditions. A pumpless mechanism for driving acetone vapors by convection force was developed in our experimental setup. The frequency shift recorded in response to acetone vapor exposure for the PMN-PT resonator was more than 10,000 times larger than for the QCM resonator. Our experimental results reinforce the notion that PMN-PT resonators could be a superior replacement for QCM resonators in a variety of biosensor applications. The experimental setup heated water to produce acetone vapors, a volatile organic chemical, which were delivered to a sensing chamber to interact with the sensing unit. Chemical vapors were driven toward the sensing unit and circulated through the system via a pumpless mechanism by the principle of convection. Both types of resonators displayed a change in frequency as acetone vapors were applied, but PMN-PT showed a more significant change by several orders of magnitude.

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