Miniature Gigahertz Acoustic Resonator and On-Chip Electrochemical Sensor: An Emerging Combination for Electroanalytical Microsystems

Performance of electroanalytical lab-on-a-chip devices is often limited by the mass transfer of electroactive species toward the electrode surface, due to the difficulty in applying external convection. This article describes the powerful signal enhancement attained with a 2.54 GHz miniature acoustic resonator integrated with an electrochemical device in a miniaturized cell. Acoustic resonator and an on-chip gold thin-film three-electrode electrochemical cell were arranged facing each other inside a structured poly(methyl methacrylate) chamber. Cyclic voltammetric and chronoamperometric responses of 1 mM ferrocene-methanol were recorded under resonator’s actuation at powers ranging from 0 to 1 W. Finite element analysis was carried out to study the sono-electroanalytical process. Acoustic resonator’s actuation greatly enhances the mass transport of electroactive species toward the electrode surface. The diffusion limited cyclic voltammetric and chronoamperometric currents increase around 10 and 20 times, respectively, with an input power of 1 W compared to those recorded under stagnant conditions. The improvement in electroanalytical process is mainly associated with acoustic resonator’s vibration induced fluid streaming. The advantages of a miniaturized acoustic resonator, including the submillimeter small size, amenability for mass fabrication, cost effectiveness, low energy consumption, as well as outstanding enhancement of coupled electrochemical processes, will enable the production of highly sensitive compact electroanalytical devices.