Surface Acoustic Wave Device with Reduced Insertion Loss by Electrospinning P(VDF–TrFE)/ZnO Nanocomposites

Surface acoustic wave(SAW) devices have been utilized for the sensing of chemical and biological phenomena in microscale for the past few decades. In this study, SAW device was fabricated by electrospinning poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-trifluoroethylene)(P(VDF-TrFE)) incorporated with zinc oxide(ZnO) nanoparticles over the delay line area of the SAW device. The morphology, composition, and crystallinity of P(VDF-TrFE)/ZnO nanocomposites were investigated. After measurement of SAW frequency response, it was found that the insertion loss of the SAW devices incorporated with ZnO nanoparticles was much less than that of the neat polymer-deposited device. The fabricated device was expected to be used in acoustic biosensors to detect and quantify the cell proliferation in cell culture systems.

Characteristics and realization of the second generation surface acoustic wave’s wavelet device

To overcome the bulk acoustic wave （BAW）, the triple transit signals and the discontinuous frequency band in the first generation surface acoustic wave＇s （FGSAW＇ s） wavelet device, the full transfer multistrip coupler （MSC） is applied to implement wavelet device, and a novel structure of the second generation surface acoustic wave＇s （SGSAW＇s） wavelet device is proposed. In the SGSAW＇ s wavelet device, the BAW is separated and eliminated in different acoustic propagating tracks, and the triple transit signal is suppressed. For arbitrary wavelet scale device, the center frequency is three times the radius of frequency band, which ensures that the frequency band of the SGSAW＇s wavelet device is continuous, and avoids losing signals caused by the discontinuation of frequency band. Experimental result confirms that the BAW suppression, ripples in band, receiving loss and insertion loss of the SGSAW＇ s wavelet device are remarkably improved compared with those of the FGSAW＇ s wavelet device.

Improved electromigration reliability of surface acoustic wave devices using Ti/Al-Mo/Ti/Al-Mo electrodes

In order to obtain both high electromigration （EM） reliability and free-dimensional control in high-frequency surface acoustic wave （SAW） devices, 4-layered Ti/Al-Mo/Ti/Al-Mo electrode films were investigated on 128° Y-X LiNbO3 substrates by sputtering deposition. The resuits indicated that the 4-layered films had an improved EM reliability compared to conventional Al-0.5wt.%Cu films. Their lifetime is approximately three times longer than that of the Al-0.5wt.%Cu films tested at a current density of 5 x 107 A/cm^2 and a temperature of 200℃. Moreover, the 4-layered films were easily etched in reactive ion etching and fine-dimensional control was realized during the pattern replication for high-frequency SAW devices. For the 4-layered films, an optimum Mo quantity and sputtering parameters were very significant for high EM reliability.

Temperature Characteristics of Surface Acoustic Waves Propagating on La_3Ga_5SiO_4 Substrates

Langasite (LGS) is a novel piezoelectric crystal. The authors numerically analyses the temperature stability of surface acoustic waves (SAW) and the relation of SAW propagation with temperature on certain optimal cuts on LGS in this paper. The results show that LGS has better temperature stability than traditional piezo crystals. The results also demonstrate that the velocity of SAW decrease with temperature, the electro-mechanical coupling constant (k2) and temperature coefficient of frequency increases parabolically and the power flow angle increases linearly on certain optimal cuts of LGS. The calculation result compared with the experimental and show good agreement.

Standing surface acoustic wave-assisted fabrication of patterned microstructures for enhancing cell migration

Microfluidic device with patterned microstructures on the substrate surface was used to regulate cell adhesion,morphology,and functions in tissue engineering.We developed a microfluidic device which employing microscale patterned microstructures to achieve enhanced cell adhesion and migration.Biocompatible hydrogel substrates with micro-wavy and lattice-patterned microstructures were fabricated using standing surface acoustic waves and ultraviolet solidification.After seeding the L929 mouse fibroblast cells onto the patterned substrate of the microfluidic device,we determined that the viability and proliferation rate of cell migration can be greatly enhanced.Furthermore,L929 cells showed two types of gathering modes after 48 h of culturing.Cell growth was guided by the patterned substrate used in the microfluidic device and showed differences in the location distribution.Therefore,the developed microfluidic device with patterned microstructures can extend the application of in vitro cell culturing for future drug development and disease diagnosis.

Strain transfer mechanism of passive wireless surface acoustic wave torque sensors using shear lag theory

A shear-lag theory was developed to investigate the strain transfer from the metal substrate to the surface acoustic wave （SAW） resonator through a bonding layer. A three-layer model of host structure-adhesive layer-resonator layer was established. The strain transfer was theoretically analyzed, and the main factors impacting the SAW sensor measurement were studied. The relationship between the sensor response and the individual effect of all these factors under static loads was discussed. Results showed that better accuracy could be achieved with increase in the adhesive stiffness or resonator length, or decrease in the adhesive thickness. The values of the strain transfer rate calculated from the analytical model agreed well with that from the available experiment data.

Propagation Characteristics of Surface Acoustic Waves on LGT and Quartz Substrates

Langatate( LGT) is a novel piezoelectric crystal; its structure is similar to quartz. A numerical analysis of the most important propagation characteristics of surface acoustic waves( SAW) on LGT and quartz is presented in this paper. The results show that the phase velocity on LGT is slower than that on quartz.Similar to quartz,there are zero temperature cuts and pure module orientations on LGT. The electro-mechanical coupling constant( k2)of LGT is larger than that of quartz. The characteristics of SAW on LGT with different material constants are calculated and compared.The results show that there are somewhat deviations with different material constants. Especially, the temperature coefficient of frequency( TCF) shows a relatively high difference.

Application of PRO-ESPRIT algorithm in identification of surface acoustic wave identification-tags

The surface acoustic wave （SAW） identification （ID）-tags have great potential for application in radio frequency identification （RFID） due to their characteristics of wireless sensing and passive operation. In the measurements based on the frequency domain sampling （FDS）, to expand the range of detection and allow the system work in harsh environments, it is necessary to enhance the identification capability at low SNR. In addition, to identify the tags in real time, it is important to reduce identification time. Therefore, estimation of signal parameters based on the Procrustes rotations via the rotational invariance technique （PRO-ESPRIT） is adopted. Experimental results show that good identification capability is achieved with a relatively faster measurement speed.

基于软件无线电方案无线无源SAW温度阅读器设计

目前谐振型声表面波(SAW)阅读器射频电路大多采取分立器件设计,针对系统整体工作频段受限,硬件设计繁琐的问题,该文提出了一种软件无线电方案。软件无线电系统主体由ZYNQ和AD9361组成,射频收发端口添加LNA、PA进行信号功率放大,使用射频开关隔离收发。通过发射步进频率5 kHz、带宽1 MHz扫频信号,并对回波进行频谱分析求取最大值,最终得到谐振频率。针对SAW传感器回波持续时间较短而导致FFT计算分辨率的不足,使用重复采集增加数据长度,将阅读器的分辨率提高到468.75 Hz。实验结果表明,该阅读器能够正确探测传感器温度变化。

A novel type of transverse surface wave propagating in a layered structure consisting of a piezoelectric layer attached to an elastic half-space

The existence and propagation of transverse surface waves in piezoelectric coupled solids is investigated, in which perfect bonding between a metal/dielectric substrate and a piezoelectric layer of finite-thickness is assumed. Dis- persion equations relating phase velocity to material con- stants for the existence of various modes are obtained in a simple mathematical form for a piezoelectric material of class 6mm. It is discovered and proved by numerical examples in this paper that a novel Bleustein-Gulyaev （B-G） type of transverse surface wave can exist in such piezoelectric cou- pled solid media when the bulk-shear-wave velocity in the substrate is less than that in the piezoelectric layer but greater than the corresponding B-G wave velocity in the same pie- zoelectric material with an electroded surface. Such a wave does not exist in such layered structures in the absence of pie- zoelectricity. The mode shapes for displacement and electric potential in the piezoelectric layer are obtained and discussed theoretically. The study extends the regime of transverse sur- face waves and may lead to potential applications to surface acoustic wave devices.

基于IDT/ZnO/AlN/Diamond结构的混合SAW/BAW压力敏感元件特性研究

利用有限元方法分析了基于IDT/ZnO/AlN/Diamond不同结构混合SAW/BAW器件的声学特性,包括层状薄膜结构、ZnO薄膜刻蚀结构和填充结构。结果表明,当h_(ZnO)/λ=0.3、h_(AlN)/λ=0.5,且ZnO被完全刻蚀(d/h_(ZnO)=1)时,刻蚀结构混合SAW/BAW(准西沙瓦波)的机电耦合系数(K^(2))取得最大值6.54%,比层状结构(d/h_(ZnO)=0)提升了近一倍。刻蚀结构中,SiO_(2)和Diamond填充物的引入不仅提高了准西沙瓦波的K_(2),而且改善了其压力传感特性。当d/h_(ZnO)=1时,SiO_(2)和Diamond填充结构准西沙瓦波的压力频移分别为81.2 kHz/MPa和207.4 kHz/MPa,比刻蚀结构分别提高了58.7%和300%;同时,Diamond填充物的引入使准西沙瓦波的频率压力系数(PCF)达到最大值297×10^(-6)/MPa,比d/h_(ZnO)=0时提高了约30%。由此可知,通过引入不同的填充物可以开发不同的功能传感器,在压力、温度和气敏等传感领域将具有极大的应用前景。

离子束刻蚀技术在SAW滤波器频率修整上的应用

随着声表面波(SAW)滤波器的应用向高频、窄带方向延伸,在制造过程中准确地控制其中心频率及一致性变得越来越困难,需要对SAW滤波器的频率进行微调。重点介绍了一种在SAW滤波器上可实现目标频率修整的离子束刻蚀修频工艺,通过实验发现刻蚀厚度不同对滤波器表面的影响程度不同,一次离子束刻蚀厚度为50 nm时,铝膜表面出现微结构变化。分析了对晶圆、器件进行离子刻蚀工艺引起热损伤的机理,表征了不同刻蚀厚度对SAW滤波器粘接芯片的剪切力和硅铝丝键合力的影响。根据实验现象及结果提出了分梯度多次刻蚀的优化方案,给出了不同刻蚀厚度的刻蚀精度,对实验结果进行拟合,得到中心频率与刻蚀厚度的关系方程,从频率、插入损耗和通带方面分析了离子束刻蚀工艺对SAW滤波器电学性能的影响。经离子束刻蚀修频后,滤波器中心频率提高2 MHz,中心频率标准差由0.4 MHz减少为0.15 MHz,中心频率的均一性由0.29%改善至0.11%,频率一致性变好。

Preparation of free-standing diamond films for high frequency SAW devices

Free-standing diamond films were prepared by hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) method under different conditions. Inter-digital transducers (IDTs) were formed on the nucleation sides of free-standing diamond films by photolithography technique. Then piezoelectric ZnO films were deposited by radio-frequency(RF) reactive magnetron sputtering to obtain the ZnO/diamond film structures. Surface morphologies of the nucleation sides and the IDTs were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM) and optical microscopy. The results indicate that the surfaces of nucleation sides are very smooth and the IDTs are of high quality without discontinuity and short circuit phenomenon. Raman spectra show the sharp diamond feature peak at about 1 334 cm?1 and the small amount of non-diamond carbon in the nucleation side. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the structure of ZnO/diamond films show a strong diffraction peak of ZnO (002), which indicates that as-sputtered ZnO films are highly c-axis oriented.

Precise simulation of surface acoustic wave devices using frequency-dependent coupling-of-modes parameters

Herein we extract all the frequency-dependent coupling-of-modes (COM) parameters, which will be used to the rapid simulation and optimal design of surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices. FEM/BEM is used to calculate the exact field distributions of forward and backward surface acoustic waves within a finite-length periodic grating at every frequency. The middle component of the grating, regarded as a periodic structure, is selected to be investigated which can satisfy the presupposition of the COM model. From these field distributions, the values of P-matrix elements of one cell are calculated. The COM parameters taken as functions of frequency are accurately obtained. Specifically, the frequency-dependent relationships of reflection coefficient and propagation velocity are obtained independently. Using the resultant COM parameters, a one-port resonator on the substrate of 128oYX-LiNbO 3 is simulated and the admittance curve shows good agreement with the simulating results using FEM/BEM. These results verify the validity and accuracy of this method.

UV light driven high-performance room temperature surface acoustic wave NH_(3) gas sensor using sulfur-doped g-C_(3)N_(4) quantum dots

Nanomaterials integrated surface acoustic wave(SAW)gas sensing technology has emerged as a promising candidate for realtime toxic gas sensing applications for environmental and human health safety.However,the development of novel chemical interface based on two-dimensional(2D)sensing materials for SAW sensors for the rapid and sensitive detection of NH_(3)gas at room temperature(RT)still remains challenging.Herein,we report a highly selective RT NH_(3)gas sensor based on sulfur-doped graphitic carbon nitride quantum dots(S@g-C_(3)N_(4)QD)coated langasite(LGS)SAW sensor with enhanced sensitivity and recovery rate under ultraviolet(UV)illumination.Fascinatingly,the sensitivity of the S@g-C_(3)N_(4)QD/LGS SAW sensor to NH_(3)(500 ppb)at RT is dramatically enhanced by~4.5-fold with a low detection limit(~85 ppb),high selectivity,excellent reproducibility,fast response/recovery time(70 s/79 s)under UV activation(365 nm)as compared to dark condition.Additionally,the proposed sensor exhibited augmented NH_(3)detection capability across the broad range of relative humidity(20%–80%).Such remarkable gas sensing performances of the as-prepared sensor to NH_(3)are attributed to the high surface area,enhanced functional groups,sulfur defects,UV photogenerated charge carriers,facile charge transfer in the S@g-C_(3)N_(4)QD sensing layer,which further helps to improve the gas molecules adsorption that causes the increase in conductivity,resulting in larger frequency responses.The gas sensing mechanism of S@g-C_(3)N_(4)QD/LGS SAW sensor is ascribed to the enhanced electroacoustic effect,which is supported by the correlation of resistive type and COMSOL Multiphysics simulation studies.We envisage that the present work paves a promising strategy to develop the next generation 2D g-C_(3)N_(4)based high responsive RT SAW gas sensors.

Tunable patterning of microscale particles using a surface acoustic wave device with slanted-finger interdigital transducers

Polymer-based materials with patterned functional particles have been used to develop smart devices with multiple functionalities.This paper presents a novel method to pattern microscale particles into biocompatible polyethylene glycol diacrylate(PEGDA)fluid through a designed surface acoustic wave(SAW)device with slanted-finger interdigital transducers(SFITs).By applying signals of different frequencies,the SFITs can excite SAWs with various wavelengths to pattern the microscale particles.The structural design and working principle of the SAW device with SFITs are firstly presented.To investigate the generation of standing SAWs and pressure field distributions of the SAW device with SFITs,a numerical model was developed.Simulation results showed that different strip-shape patterned pressure fields can be generated,and the period and width of adjacent strips can be adjusted by changing the frequencies of the excitation signals.Experiments were performed to verify that the microscale particles in the PEGDA solution can be successfully patterned into strip-shape patterns with various positions,periods,and widths.The results obtained in this study demonstrate that the developed method of using an SAW device with SFITs can be used for tunable patterning of microscale particles in solutions,and shows great potential for biomedical and microfluidic applications.

Test method of frequency response based on diamond surface acoustic wave devices

In order to reduce the noises affixed to the signals when testing high frequency devices,a single-port test mode(S11) is used to test frequency response of high frequency(GHz) and dual-port surface acoustic wave devices(SAWDs) in this paper.The feasibility of the test is proved by simulating the Fabry-perot model.The frequency response of the high-frequency dual-port resonant-type diamond SAWD is measured by S11 and the dual-port test mode(S21),respectively.The results show that the quality factor of the device is 51.29 and the 3 dB bandwidth is 27.8 MHz by S11-mode measurement,which is better than the S21 mode,and is consistent with the frequency response curve by simulation.

TC-SAW滤波器仿真与设计技术

该文介绍了温度补偿滤波器的设计方法。通过研究温度补偿结构的材料,在性能和温度系数之间求取最佳的层间参数搭配。在此基础上提取三维耦合模式模型(COM)参数数据库,并置于设计仿真软件中,最终可以实现高温稳定型声表面波(TC-SAW)滤波器的设计优化。根据指标要求设计目标函数,设计出满足要求的低损耗TC-SAW滤波器。利用多层FEM/BEM软件对性能进行精确验证,实验结果与仿真结果吻合良好。

基于SAW的电缆接头内部测温天线研究

由于声表面波(SAW)测温技术因具有无源无线的特点而备受研究人员的广泛关注。该技术可应用在电缆接头内部的温度测量中,但因受电缆接头材料和结构的影响,使SAW测温信号传递受阻,严重影响了温度信号的检测。该文基于DWG-630A型电缆接头的结构和材料,设计了一款可用于电缆接头内部测温的天线。通过其理论分析、仿真及试验验证,证明该设计切实可行。结果表明,穿过电缆接头可传递SAW温度信号,并在工作频段内具有良好的增益和辐射效果。

SAW压力传感器声传播方向特性研究

针对高温恶劣环境下对压力参数的测量需求,结合目前氮化铝(AlN)和蓝宝石(sapphire)等耐高温材料,构建了一种叉指换能器(IDT)/AlN/Sapphire结构的声表面波(SAW)传感器模型,并采用有限元法(FEM)分析SAW在c轴取向AlN薄膜上分别沿a方向(〈11-20〉)和m方向(〈1-100〉)传播时的器件性能,包括AlN和IDT的厚度对声速和机电耦合系数的影响,以及不同方向传播时SAW压力传感器灵敏度的变化。实验结果表明:表面波沿a方向传播的传感器相比于m方向明显具有更高的声速与机电耦合系数,2个方向的传感器灵敏度分别为435.37×10^(-6)/MPa和426.29×10^(-6)/MPa,a方向灵敏度略大于m方向。此研究工作为之后的传感器设计制造提供了一定的参考价值。