Autor(es): Amorim, Débora ; Dinis, Hugo Daniel Costa ; Minas, Graça ; Sousa, Patrícia C. ; Abreu, Carlos ; Catarino, Susana Oliveira
Data: 2025
Identificador Persistente: https://hdl.handle.net/1822/96822
Origem: RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
Assunto(s): COMSOL Multiphysics software; microfluidics; piezoelectric materials; surface acoustic waves
Surface acoustic wave-based microfluidic devices have gained substantial attention for their effectiveness in manipulating, detecting, and quantifying biological samples. These systems utilize interdigitated transducers deposited on piezoelectric substrates to generate acoustic fields within microchannels. This study presents a comparative analysis of acoustic pressure fields generated using different piezoelectric substrates and electrode materials, modeled through finite element simulations. Among the materials tested, only quartz, lithium tantalate, and lithium niobate successfully generated surface acoustic waves, with lithium niobate demonstrating the highest acoustic pressure amplitudes and the most defined pressure node patterns. In contrast, the choice of electrode material—between aluminum, gold, and platinum—did not significantly affect the acoustic pressure field, indicating that interdigitated transducer material can be selected based on fabrication and durability considerations. These findings offer valuable guidance for the material selection and design of efficient surface acoustic wave-based microfluidic systems.
