The Experimental Registration of the Evanescent Acoustic Wave in YX LiNbO3 Plate.

Evanescent acoustic waves are characterized by purely imaginary or complex wavenumbers. Earlier, in 2019 by using a three dimensional (3D) finite element method (FEM) the possibility of the excitation and registration of such waves in the piezoelectric plates was theoretically shown. In this paper the set of the acoustically isolated interdigital transducers (IDTs) with the different spatial periods for excitation and registration of the evanescent acoustic wave in Y-cut X-propagation direction of lithium niobate (LiNbO3) plate was specifically calculated and produced. As a result, the possibility to excite and register the evanescent acoustic wave in the piezoelectric plates was experimentally proved for the first time. The evanescent nature of the registered wave has been established. The theoretical results turned out to be in a good agreement with the experimental ones. The influence of an infinitely thin layer with arbitrary conductivity placed on a plate surface was also investigated. It has been shown that the frequency region of an evanescent acoustic wave existence is very sensitive to the changes of the electrical boundary conditions. The results obtained may be used for the development of the method of the analysis of thin films electric properties based on the study of evanescent waves.

Enhanced Adsorption and Separation of Xenon over Krypton via an Unsaturated Calcium Center in a Metal-Organic Framework.

Krypton (Kr) and xenon (Xe) are nowadays widely applied in technical and industrial fields. Separating and collecting highly pure Xe from nuclear facilities are necessary and urgent. However, the technology is limited due to the inert nature of Xe and other interferential factors. In this work, a calcium-based metal-organic framework, Ca-SINAP-1, which comprises a three-dimensional microporous framework with a suitable pore width, was researched for xenon and krypton separation through both experimental and theoretical methods. Ca-SINAP-1, synthesized in solvothermal and gamma ray conditions, features accessible open-metal sites, exhibits a high Xe/Kr selectivity of 10.32, and owns a Xe adsorption capacity of 2.87 mmol/g at room temperature (1.0 bar). Particularly, its excellent chemical stability (from pH 2 to 13) and thermal stability (up to 550 °C), as well as radiation-resistance (up to 400 kGy ß irradiations), render this material a promising candidate for radioactive inert gases treatment.

Synthesis of luminescent thorium-based metal-organic frameworks with 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene.

Three new thorium-based MOFs based on 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene (H4TCPB) were obtained under a similar reaction system (metal salt, ligand, solvent, and acid are the same). Th(iv) forms the central unit of the MOFs in mononuclear and binuclear clusters, respectively. All the MOFs show blue ligand-based luminescence under an ultraviolet environment. This is the first time that multiple thorium-based MOFs with luminescence have been found with the same ligand.

Excitation and detection of evanescent acoustic waves in piezoelectric plates: Theoretical and 2D FEM modeling.

This paper presents the results of the theoretical and 2D FEM modeling excitation and detection of evanescent acoustic waves in piezoelectric plates. By application of 2D ordinary differential equations derived by Auld, we obtained the dispersion curves of A1 and SH1 waves in YX LiNbO3 and YX KNbO3 plates in proximity to a zero group velocity point. The branches corresponding to evanescent acoustic waves are distinguished. A frequency range where real part of evanescent wave velocity is more than imaginary one was found. In this region evanescent mode is characterized by opposite directions of the phase and group velocities, i.e. this is backward wave. The theoretical analysis was verified in commercial 2D FEM software COMSOL 5.3. By modeling a set of interdigital transducers placed on the surface of Y-cut LiNbO3 wafer with various values of the spatial period we found the resonant frequencies corresponding to evanescent A1 mode. Due to proximity of this wave to a zero group velocity point its properties should be extremely sensitive to change of waveguide quality and ambient air. This is open the possibility to use these waves for development of high sensitive sensors and for nondestructive waveguide analysis.

Wave propagation in piezoelectric layered structures of film bulk acoustic resonators.

In this paper, we studied the wave propagation in a piezoelectric layered plate consisting of a piezoelectric thin film on an electroded elastic substrate with or without a driving electrode. Both plane-strain and anti-plane waves were taken into account for the sake of completeness. Numerical results on dispersion relations, cut-off frequencies and vibration distributions of selected modes were given. The effects of mass ratio of driving electrode layer to film layer on the dispersion curve patterns and cut-off frequencies of the plane-strain waves were discussed in detail. Results show that the mass ratio does not change the trend of dispersion curves but larger mass ratio lowers corresponding frequency at a fixed wave number and may extend the frequency range for energy trapping. Those results are of fundamental importance and can be used as a reference to develop effective two-dimensional plate equations for structural analysis and design of film bulk acoustic resonators.

Theoretical validation on the existence of two transverse surface waves in piezoelectric/elastic layered structures.

In this paper, we analytically study the dispersion behavior of transverse surface waves in a piezoelectric coupled solid consisting of a transversely isotropic piezoelectric ceramic layer and an isotropic metal or dielectric substrate. This study is a revisit to the stiffened Love wave propagation done previously. Closed-form dispersion equations are obtained in a very simple mathematical form for both electrically open and shorted cases. From the viewpoint of physical situation, two transverse surface waves (i.e., the stiffened Love wave and the FDLW-type wave) are separately found in a PZT-4/steel system and a PZT-4/zinc system. All the observed dispersion curves are theoretically validated through the discussion on the limit values of phase velocity using the obtained dispersion equations. Those validation and discussion give rise to a deeper understanding on the existence of transverse surface waves in such piezoelectric coupled structures. The results can be used as a benchmark for the study of the wave propagation in the piezoelectric coupled structures and are significant in the design of wave propagation in the piezoelectric coupled structures as well.

Dispersion characteristics of transverse surface waves in piezoelectric coupled solid media with hard metal interlayer.

The propagation of transverse surface waves in a piezoelectric layer/metal substrate system with one or multiple hard metal interlayer(s) is investigated analytically. The general dispersion equations for the existence of the waves are obtained in a simple mathematic form for class 6mm piezoelectric materials. The presence of a hard metal interlayer can not only get rid of the undesired mode appearing in the case without an interlayer but shorten the existence range of the phase velocity within which a nonleaky but dispersive mode exists. The effects of the hard interlayer on the phase velocity can be used to manipulate the behavior of the waves and has implications in acoustic wave devices.

Effect of initial stress on Love waves in a piezoelectric structure carrying a functionally graded material layer.

The effect of initial stress on the propagation behavior of Love waves in a piezoelectric half-space of polarized ceramics carrying a functionally graded material (FGM) layer is analytically investigated in this paper from the three-dimensional equations of linear piezoelectricity. The analytical solutions are obtained for the dispersion relations of Love wave propagating in this kind of structure with initial stress for both electrical open case and electrical short case, respectively. One numerical example is given to graphically illustrate the effect of initial stress on dispersive curve, phase velocity and electromechanical coupling factor of the Love wave propagation. The results reported here are meaningful for the design of surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices with high performance.

Propagation of thickness-twist waves in a piezoelectric ceramic plate with unattached electrodes.

We analyze the propagation of thickness-twist waves in an unbounded piezoelectric ceramic plate with air gaps between the plate surfaces and two electrodes. These waves are also called anti-plane or shear-horizontal waves with one displacement component only. An exact solution is obtained from the equations of the linear theory of piezoelectricity. Dispersion relations of the waves are obtained and plotted. Results show that the wave frequency or speed is sensitive to the air gap thickness. This effect can be used to manipulate the behavior of the waves and has implications in acoustic wave devices.

Transverse surface waves in a layered structure with a functionally graded piezoelectric substrate and a hard dielectric layer.

As to an ideally layered structure with a functionally graded piezoelectric substrate (material parameters change continuously along the thickness direction) and a hard dielectric layer, the existence and propagation behavior of transverse surface waves is studied by analytical technique. The dispersion equations for the existence of the transverse surface waves with respect to phase velocity are obtained for electrically open and short circuit conditions, respectively. A detailed investigation of the effect of gradient coefficient on dispersion relation, electromechanical coupling factor and penetration depth is carried out. It is found by numerical examples that adjusting gradient coefficient makes the electromechanical coupling factor of the transverse surface waves achieve quite high values at some appropriate ratio values of the layer thickness to the wavelength, and at the same time, the penetration depth can be reduced to the same order as the wavelength.