Acoustic sensors for the control of liquid–solid interface evolution and chemical reactivity

Less classical than far-field acoustic investigations of solid materials and/or solid–liquid interfaces, near-field acoustic properties of an acoustic solid wave guide (tip), thin enough at its termination to present an external diameter smaller than the excitation acoustic wave wavelength, is shown to be able to probe interface properties. As a result of that, these near-field acoustic probes can play the role of chemical sensors, if chemical modifications or chemical reactions are concerned at their surface. In that context, a chemical sensor was realized by electrochemical deposition of an electron-conducting polymer (polypyrrole–biotin) on a metal tip, followed by enzyme attachment by molecular recognition process involving the biotin–avidin-specific interaction. Results from near-field acoustic showed that the enzyme modification of the polymer layer can be detected by this new acoustic sensor.