Shear-horizontal surface acoustic wave phononic device with high density filling material for ultra-low power sensing applications

Journal Article · Mon Jun 23 04:00:00 EDT 2014 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4884655· OSTI ID:22303874

Richardson, M.

Finite element simulations of a phononic shear-horizontal surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor based on ST 90°-X Quartz reveal a dramatic reduction in power consumption. The phononic sensor is realized by artificially structuring the delay path to form an acoustic meta-material comprised of a periodic microcavity array incorporating high-density materials such as tantalum or tungsten. Constructive interference of the scattered and secondary reflected waves at every microcavity interface leads to acoustic energy confinement in the high-density regions translating into reduced power loss. Tantalum filled cavities show the best performance while tungsten inclusions create a phononic bandgap. Based on our simulation results, SAW devices with tantalum filled microcavities were fabricated and shown to significantly decrease insertion loss. Our findings offer encouraging prospects for designing low power, highly sensitive portable biosensors.

• OSTI ID: 22303874
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters Journal Issue: 25 Vol. 104; ISSN APPLAB; ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
CONFINEMENT
DENSITY
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
INCLUSIONS
INTERFACES
INTERFERENCE
PERIODICITY
POWER LOSSES
SENSORS
SIMULATION
SOUND WAVES
SURFACES
TANTALUM
TUNGSTEN