Transduction mechanism of acoustic-wave based chemical and biochemical sensors

Acoustic-wave-based sensors are commonly known as mass-sensitive devices. However, acoustic chemical and biochemical sensors also face so-called non-gravimetric effects, especially if they work in a liquid environment. The one-dimensional transmission-line model (TLM) is a powerful tool, which considers the influence of geometric and material properties on the sensor transduction mechanism, most importantly the influence of viscoelastic phenomena. This paper demonstrates the concept of modelling acoustic microsensors on quartz crystal resonators. Particular attention is paid to special cases which allow for simplifications or specific solutions of the TLM, like the acoustic load concept (ALC), the BVD model or the Sauerbrey equation. Deviations from the one-dimensional assumption of the TLM are suspected to significantly contribute to the acoustic sensor response in biosystems. We therefore introduce a generalization of the ALC to get access to two- or three-dimensional effects, which are up to now not considered in the TLM. As examples, signatures of interfacial phenomena or non-uniform films are discussed.