Why Sonochemistry in a Thin Layer? Constructive Interference.

Abstract

Sonochemistry in a thin fluid layer has advantages of no visible cavitation, no turbulence, negligible temperature changes (≲1 °C), low power transducers, and transmissibility (sound pressure amplification) of ≳106. Unlike sonochemistry in semi-infinite fluids, resonance and so constructive interference of sound pressure can be established in thin layers. Constructive interference enables substantial amplification of sound pressure at solid fluid interfaces. Fluid properties of sound velocity and attenuation, oscillator input frequency, and thin fluid layer thickness couple to established resonance in underdamped conditions. In thin layer sonochemistry (TLS), thin layers are established where ultrasonic wavelength and oscillator-interface separation are comparable, about a centimeter in water. Solution of a one dimensional wave equation identifies explicit relationships between the system parameters required to establish resonance and constructive interference in a thin layer.