Enhanced Q-factor in microcantilevers using stiffened inertial amplifiers

Microcantilevers are widely employed in sensing applications because they are highly sensitive to changes in vibrational frequency. The Q-factor, a measure of the effectiveness of energy storage in resonant systems, is a crucial parameter that directly influences the sensitivity and performance of microcantilevers. Conventional approaches to improving the Q-factor by choosing certain materials or making changes to the shape have notable practical and economic constraints. This study introduces a new method that utilizes reinforced inertial amplifiers to significantly improve the Q-factor of microcantilevers. We introduce three setups: the standard amplifier, the compound amplifier, and the nested amplifier, each specifically engineered to enhance the system’s effective inertia. According to theoretical modeling, all arrangements enhance the Q-factor, with the nested design resulting in an impressive amplification of over 3000. These findings present a scalable technique to improve the sensitivity of microcantilevers, offering a potential approach for future experimental verification and utilization in precision sensing technologies.