AVS 61st International Symposium & Exhibition
    Fundamentals & Biological, Energy and Environmental Applications of Quartz Crystal Microbalance Focus Topic Thursday Sessions
       Session QC+AS+BI+MN-ThM

Paper QC+AS+BI+MN-ThM6
On the Role of Acoustic Streaming in Particle Detachment Events at a QCM Surface

Thursday, November 13, 2014, 9:40 am, Room 317

Session: Fundamentals and Method Development of QCM
Presenter: Rebekka König, Clausthal University of Technology, Germany
Authors: R. König, Clausthal University of Technology, Germany
A. Langhoff, Clausthal University of Technology, Germany
D. Johannsmann, Clausthal University of Technology, Germany
Correspondent: Click to Email

A steady flow of liquid was observed above the surface of a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) under conditions, where the oscillation amplitude exceeded 10 nanometers . The streaming flow occurs parallel to the displacement vector and is directed towards the center of the plate. It is expected to have applications in acoustic sensing, in microfluidics, and in micromechanics in a wider sense. The flow is caused by the nonlinear term in the Navier- Stokes equation, which can produce a nonzero time-averaged force from a periodic velocity field. Central to the explanation are the flexural admixtures to the resonator's mode of vibration. Unlike pressure-driven flows, the acoustically driven steady flow attains its maximum velocity at a distance of a few hundred nanometers from the surface. It is therefore efficient in breaking bonds between adsorbed particles and the resonator surface. As a side aspect, the flow pattern amounts to a diagnostic tool, which gives access to the pattern of vibration. In particular, it leads to an estimate of the magnitude of the flexural admixtures to the thickness-shear vibration.

[1] R. König, A. Langhoff, D. Johannsmann, Physical Review E2014.