OpenQCM measures changes in the resonance of a quartz crystal as material interacts with its surface. Its slogan, “Measure As Little As You Want,” points to small-mass sensing; it is not a promise of unlimited range or a universal detection limit. The current Wi2, Q-1, and NEXT instruments differ in whether they measure only frequency or also dissipation and overtones, and in how they handle temperature.
How OpenQCM measures surface interactions
A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) tracks the resonance of a vibrating quartz sensor. When material adsorbs to, grows on, or otherwise interacts with the crystal surface, the resonance frequency can change. QCM-D instruments also monitor dissipation, which provides another way to observe changes in the resonating system, including changes associated with viscoelastic surface layers.
That makes a QCM useful for following processes at a surface in real time. What a frequency or dissipation change means depends on the sample, sensor coating, fluid or atmosphere, and experimental conditions; the signal alone does not identify every substance or establish a clinical result.
OpenQCM model comparison
OpenQCM’s manufacturer describes three current models. These are product-page specifications, not results from an independent head-to-head test; Q-1 and NEXT are explicitly described by the manufacturer as experimental or evolving research instruments.
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| Model | Manufacturer-described measurement features | Potential research fit |
|---|---|---|
| OpenQCM Wi2 | Fundamental-frequency real-time mass sensing and integrated temperature monitoring. The manufacturer states resolution below 1 Hz. | Thin-film deposition, environmental monitoring, biosensor development, adsorption/desorption, and surface chemistry. |
| OpenQCM Q-1 | Simultaneous frequency and dissipation/phase measurement, with passive interrogation at the fundamental and overtones n=3, 5, 7, and 9. The manufacturer describes the product as experimental and under ongoing development. | Research involving protein biosensors, bacteria-related sensing, molecular recognition, or viscoelastic surface changes. |
| OpenQCM NEXT | Frequency and dissipation monitoring across multiple overtones, extending up to the 9th overtone according to the manufacturer. Active temperature control is listed from 15 °C to 45 °C, with stated accuracy of 0.01 °C. The manufacturer calls the instrument experimental and a work in progress. | Surface science, tribology, soft condensed matter, polymers, gels, colloids, and protein adsorption. |
See the manufacturer’s current descriptions for Wi2, Q-1, and NEXT. The listed Wi2 resolution is a manufacturer specification, not a guarantee of the smallest detectable sample in every setup.
Which OpenQCM fits the experiment?
Choose Wi2 when fundamental-frequency sensing is enough
Wi2 is presented as a straightforward option for tracking fundamental-frequency changes, with integrated temperature monitoring. The manufacturer describes applications such as monitoring thin-film growth, tracing contaminants or chemical species in air or water samples, developing biosensors, and studying adsorption or desorption at surfaces.
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Its product page cites research examples involving equilin detection, polymer-additive emissions into water, and a coated QCM used for methanol gas detection. These are examples of particular research setups, not evidence that the same performance applies to any analyte or sensor configuration.
Choose Q-1 when dissipation and overtones matter
Q-1 adds simultaneous frequency and dissipation/phase measurements and supports the fundamental plus the 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th overtones, according to its product description. Those extra measurements may be relevant when the experiment concerns changes in a surface layer’s behavior rather than frequency shifts alone. The manufacturer discusses protein sensing, molecular recognition, and QCM-D bacterial detection as research contexts.
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The Q-1 page lists research examples on protein sensing and lung-cancer biomarkers in liquid biopsies (both 2023) and E. coli biofilm development (2020). They should be understood as research applications, not proof that Q-1 is a clinical diagnostic or has regulatory approval.
Choose NEXT when multiple overtones and active temperature control are needed
NEXT combines frequency and dissipation monitoring across multiple overtones and provides active temperature control, with manufacturer-listed operation from 15 °C to 45 °C. Its page discusses use in surface science, tribology, soft condensed matter, and protein adsorption. Listed examples from 2023 concern epoxy-functional nanoparticles and friction, porous cellulose thin films, and functional polymer brushes.
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Applications—and what they do not establish
OpenQCM’s homepage lists material science; biochemistry and molecular biology; environmental monitoring; surface science and nanotechnology; electrochemistry; and drug discovery and pharmaceutical research. The model pages add examples such as film growth, biosensor development, adsorption, bacterial biofilms, and polymer or colloid research. These are research areas, not a blanket claim of clinical suitability, regulatory approval, or guaranteed performance for a specific sample.
For more on the underlying instrument concept, see OpenQCM’s QCM technology information.
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Check crystal and setup compatibility before choosing a sensor
A quartz sensor crystal is the key consumable in a QCM experiment, but crystals are not automatically interchangeable across instruments or fluidic arrangements. NEXT’s manufacturer says its fluidic module is designed to host different quartz frequencies and a range of sensor chips; that statement does not establish universal compatibility across OpenQCM models.
- Confirm the crystal’s resonant frequency is supported by the specific instrument.
- Check electrode geometry and crystal dimensions against the holder or fluidic module.
- Verify that the crystal and any coating suit the sample environment and the intended measurement.
- Confirm fluidic compatibility if the experiment uses a liquid cell or flow arrangement.
- Ask the manufacturer or supplier to confirm compatibility for the exact instrument and configuration if any detail is unclear.
Wi2’s measurement is likewise based on a quartz crystal sensor. See the manufacturer’s Wi2 information and NEXT fluidic-module description when checking the relevant setup.
What the 2015 slogan and specifications mean
“Measure As Little As You Want With OpenQCM” was the title of a Hackaday article published March 31, 2015; OpenQCM’s press-review page dated April 10, 2015 lists that coverage. The phrase is a project slogan, not a defined detection limit.
Hackaday reported 700 picograms sensitivity, 1 Hz frequency resolution, and a device weight of 55 grams for the original OpenQCM in 2015. Those historical figures should not be assigned to the current Wi2, Q-1, or NEXT: current capabilities need to be read from the relevant model’s specifications. The 2015 article also mentioned one-second pulse counting and a Java interface for the original setup.
For the historical wording and figures, see Hackaday’s 2015 article and OpenQCM’s press-review page.
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