Physical Aspects of QCM-Measurements -- Interface Circuits for QCM Sensors -- Interface Circuits for QCM Sensors -- Studies of Viscoelasticity with the QCM -- Studies of Viscoelasticity with the QCM -- Probing the Solid/Liquid Interface with the Quartz Crystal Microbalance -- Probing the Solid/Liquid Interface with the Quartz Crystal Microbalance -- Studies of Contact Mechanics with the QCM -- Studies of Contact Mechanics with the QCM -- Chemical and Biological Applications of the QCM -- Imprinted Polymers in Chemical Recognition for Mass-Sensitive Devices -- Imprinted Polymers in Chemical Recognition for Mass-Sensitive Devices -- Analytical Applicationsof QCM-based Nucleic Acid Biosensors -- Analytical Applications of QCM-based Nucleic Acid Biosensors -- Piezoelectric Immunosensors -- Piezoelectric Immunosensors -- Specific Adsorption of Annexin A1 on Solid Supported Membranes: A Model Study -- Specific Adsorption of Annexin A1 on Solid Supported Membranes: A Model Study -- The Quartz Crystal Microbalance in Cell Biology: Basics and Applications -- The Quartz Crystal Microbalance in Cell Biology: Basics and Applications -- Applications Based on Advanced QCM-Techniques -- Enzyme Reactions on a 27 MHz Quartz Crystal Microbalance -- Enzyme Reactions on a 27 MHz Quartz Crystal Microbalance -- The Quartz Crystal Microbalance and the Electrochemical QCM: Applications to Studies of Thin Polymer Films, Electron Transfer Systems, Biological Macromolecules, Biosensors, and Cells -- The Quartz Crystal Microbalance and the Electrochemical QCM: Applications to Studies of Thin Polymer Films, Electron Transfer Systems, Biological Macromolecules, Biosensors, and Cells -- The QCM-D Technique for Probing Biomacromolecular Recognition Reactions -- The QCM-D Technique for Probing Biomacromolecular Recognition Reactions -- Resonant Acoustic Profiling (RAP™) and Rupture Event Scanning (REVS™) -- Resonant Acoustic Profiling (RAP™) and Rupture Event Scanning (REVS™).

Chemically and biologically functionalized piezoelectric sensors are attractive alternatives to surface-sensitive transducers due to their surpassing versatility. The fourth volume of the Springer Series on Chemical Sensors and Biosensors includes a comprehensive theoretical treatment and current state-of-the art applications of the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). Interface circuits and the study of viscoelasticity and micromechanics as well as surface roughness with the QCM are discussed. The broad field of analytical applications of piezoelectric sensors is covered, which ranges from nucleic acid detection, immunosensors, protein-membrane interactions and monitoring cells by imprinted polymers to the viscoelastic response of living mammalian cells on QCM-resonators. Sophisticated derivatives of the classical QCM, such as rupture event scanning, the use of extraordinary high frequency crystals, and electrochemical QCM, clearly reveal the advantages of combining multiple techniques to realize new detection schemes on the basis of piezoelectric resonators.