High performance SAW resonator with spurious mode suppression using double-layer electrode transverse modulation

Abstract

This work aims to solve the problem of tradeoff between various properties and spurious mode suppression in surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators. A high-angle rotated Y-cut LiNbO3 (LN)/SiO2/Si multilayered structure was proposed to balance the electromechanical coupling coefficient (K 2) and temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF), and the propagation characteristics of Rayleigh mode were simulated by the finite element method. For the widely existing spurious modes, the shear-horizontal wave and longitudinal modes were eliminated by optimizing the cut angle of LN and electrode thickness, and a method of double-layer electrode transverse modulation was proposed to suppress the transverse modes. This method reduces the mass loading effect by replacing the electrode from Cu to Cu/Al. Moreover, the Al thicknesses in different regions are changed to perform the transverse modulation, and thus a widespread suppression of transverse modes is achieved by exciting the piston mode and enhancing the energy constraint, with a significant improvement on quality factor at the resonance frequency. Eventually, the spurious-free SAW resonator has the K 2 of 9.5% and the TCF close to zero. This work provides a feasible scheme for the design of high performance SAW resonators with spurious mode suppression.