The effect of KCl solution ionic strength to QCM sensor response coated with PVC-polystyrene-crown ether

The interaction between the surface of the material and the ionic solution can cause many different effects on the material. One impact that might occur is material swelling. The swelling of the polymer in the form of thin films causes changes in the mechanical property of the materials. Swelling results in an expansion of the volume of the polymer. In turn, it changes molecular density, modulus of elasticity of the film, and penetration of solution to the polymer. When the polymer film is deposited on a Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) sensor, the change in the mechanical affects the sensor's resonant frequency. This study shows ionic strength with an average effect of the concentration of potassium chloride on a polymer film mixed between polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), and the crown-ether (CE) associated with changes in the frequency of the coated sensor. Minimum impedance measurements show that changes in the mechanical properties of the thin film are observed. The resonant frequency of the QCM sensor decrease with time when interacting with a potassium chloride solution. While the minimum impedance at series resonance remains constant. Distilled water and KCl solution, which is varied, are used to analyze the effects of swelling that occur. The result shows that the amount of the frequency decrease depends on the concentration of the KCl solution.