Search

Acoustical tweezers based on focused acoustical vortices open some tremendous perspectives for the in vitro and in vivo remote manipulation of millimetric down to micrometric objects, with com- bined selectivity and applied forces out of reach with any other contactless manipulation technique. Yet, the synthesis of ultra-high frequency acoustical vortices to manipulate precisely micrometric objects remains a major challenge. In this paper, the synthesis of a 250 MHz acoustical vortex is achieved with an active holographic source based on spiraling interdigitated transducers. It is shown that this ultra-high frequency vortex enables to trap and position individual particles in a standard microscopy environment with high spatial selectivity and nanoNewton forces. This work opens perspectives to explore acoustic force spectroscopy in some force ranges that were not accessible before.

Deep-ultraviolet solar-blind photodiodes based on high-quality AlN films grown on sapphire substrates with a metal–semiconductor–metal configuration were simulated and fabricated. The Schottky contact is based on TiN metallization. The material is characterized by the micro-Raman spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction technique. The detector presents an extremely low dark current of 100 fA at −100 V dc bias for large device area as high as 3.1 mm2. It also exhibits a rejection ratio between 180 and 300 nm of three orders of magnitude with a very sharp cut-off wavelength at 203 nm (∼6.1 eV). The simulation to optimize the photodiode topology is based on a 2D energy-balance model using the COMSOL® software. Simulation performed for different spacing for a given bias between electrodes show that a compromise must be found between the dark current and the responsivity for the optimization of the device performance. The measurement results are in good agreement with the model predictions.

Since their first synthesis, cubic boron nitride (c-BN) and diamond thin films have triggered a vivid interest in these wide band gap materials for many different applications. Because of superior properties, c-BN and diamond can be applied in optic, electronic and acoustic for high performances devices. In this discussion, we first describe briefly the properties of c-BN and diamond and we review both the growth techniques and the progresses achieved in the synthesis of c-BN and diamond, and in a second part, characteristics of new c-BN and diamond UV detectors for solar observation are reported. These photo-detectors present extremely low dark current, high breakdown voltage, high responsivity and stability under UV irradiation. Finally, diamond based acoustic devices and sensors are presented. High frequency acoustic wave devices can be design for high frequency filtering or sensing applications. Diamond/AlN micro-cantilevers are excellent platform for sensor applications.