Fluidic Qcm-Pnc Sensor

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This invention describes a sensor device capable of analyzing the volumetric properties of fluids (liquids or gases) by combining a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) with a phononic crystal (PnC) or other acoustic metamaterials as an intermediary layer. The system detects changes in properties such as density, viscosity, and speed of sound in the fluid through precise measurements of resonance frequency shifts, thereby providing detailed thermodynamic information about the fluid's composition and molecular interactions.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Quality control in chemical and pharmaceutical processes by monitoring fluid properties in real-time.
• Detection and analysis of biochemical reactions in research and diagnostics.
• Liquid or gas analysis in industrial processes for substance identification or purity assessment.
• Environmental monitoring, such as measuring pollutants or contamination in water or air.
• Medical diagnostics, for example in blood or urine analysis, by assessing volumetric properties.
• Detection of adulteration or contamination in food and beverage industry.
• Fundamental research into fluid dynamics and molecular interaction studies.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• High sensitivity and resolution due to the combination of QCM and phononic crystal technologies.
• Direct measurement of volumetric (bulk) properties of fluids, such as speed of sound, providing richer thermodynamic insights.
• Reduced influence of surface effects or contamination compared to traditional sensors.
• Applicable to both liquids and gases, increasing versatility.
• Enables rapid, real-time, and non-destructive testing without needing intensive sample preparation.
• Potential for miniaturization and integration into lab-on-chip or portable sensor platforms.
• Improved selectivity and tunability by customizing the intermediate acoustic metamaterial layer.

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Patent Abstract

The present invention relates to a sensor device for detecting volumetric properties of fluids and a method for detecting volumetric properties of fluids using the sensor device. The sensor device comprises a quartz-crystal transducer, a fluid-filled cavity and an acoustic artificial material layer between the transducer and the cavity.