Effects of unequal electrode pairs on an x-strip thickness-shear mode multi-channel quartz crystal microbalance

We study the thickness-shear vibrations of an x-strip monolithic piezoelectric plate made from AT-cut quartz crystals with two unequal electrode pairs. The Tiersten-Smythe scalar differential equations for electroded and unelectroded quartz plates are separately employed, resulting in free vibration distributions and frequencies of operating modes. The vibrations of these operating modes are mainly trapped in the electroded regions. The loss of the structural symmetry can lead to a weak vibration interaction between two electroded regions. The influences of electrode difference on the vibration and frequency interference between two adjacent resonators are investigated in detail. The obtained results provide a fundamental reference to the design and optimization of multi-channel quartz crystal microbalance.