Finite element modeling for a flexible transparent piezoelectric surface acoustic wave transducer

Abstract

A flexible transparent piezoelectric surface acoustic wave (SAW) transducer was recently developed based on ultrahigh transparent polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric film and Indium tin oxide (ITO) transparency interdigital electrode. The ITO electrode was configurated as a pair of interdigital electrode pattern with input and output terminals. On the surface of a solar cell panel, the measured visible light transparency efficiency of the PVDF film is 99.4%1 . When the input is a pulse voltage signal and the output is a receiver circuit, the SAW transducer is acting as a sensor to detect the variation of the mass, such dust on the surface. When a sinusoidal voltage is applied to the input terminal of the SAW transducer and the output connected with matched resistive load, a unique direction propagation acoustic wave is generated to remove fully covered dust in a few minutes. The transducer can be used for self-sensing and cleaning dust for solar panel, building windows, optical equipment. The transducer can also be used for structure health monitoring and bio detections, etc. In this paper, the finite element modeling results with different conditions for this SAW transducer are presented. These results will provide guidelines for a specific sensor design to match some practical application requirements.