Effect of current distribution on quartz crystal microbalance measurements

Spatially nonuniform electrodeposition can cause discrepancies between predicted and experimentally measured mass loadings on an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) because the sensitivity of the quartz crystal varies significantly from point to point. These discrepancies can be significant even if the current distribution is nearly uniform. These effects were examined experimentally by varying the conductivity of the electrolyte and the current. density during the electrodeposition of copper on an EQCM, effecting changes in the spatial, deposited-mass distribution in a controlled manner. The resulting frequency shifts agree with results predicted by current distribution simulations, validated a posteriori with profilometry measurements. Our results permit determination of the spatial variation of the quartz crystal sensitivity factor, or of the current distribution on the EQCM.