Silicon oxide colloidal/polymer nanocomposite films
- Materials Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802 (United States)
The quarter-wavelength ({lambda}/4) acoustic matching layer, a vital component in medical ultrasonic transducer, can bridge the large acoustic impedance mismatch between the piezoelectric material and the human body. Composite materials are widely used as matching materials in order to cover the wide acoustic impedance range that cannot be accomplished by using a single-phase material. At high frequencies (>50 MHz), the {lambda}/4 matching layers become extremely thin so that the fabrication of homogeneous composite material matching layers becomes very challenging. A method is reported in this letter to fabricate sol-gel silicon oxide colloidal/polymer composite film on silicon substrate, in which the particle size of silicon oxide colloidal is between 10 and 40 nm. The acoustic impedance of the nanocomposite films versus aging temperature has been measured at the desired operating frequency.
- OSTI ID:
- 20634561
- Journal Information:
- Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 85, Issue 24; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.1836018; (c) 2004 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Piezoelectric materials used in underwater acoustic transducers
Self-assembled vertically aligned nanocomposite systems integrated on silicon substrate: Progress and future perspectives