SU-8 photoresist and SU-8 based nanocomposites for broadband acoustical matching at 1 GHz

So as to integrate acoustic functions in BioMEMS using 1 GHz ZnO transducers deposited on silicon substrates, acoustic waves propagation through the silicon substrate and its transmission in water needs to be maximized (the insertion losses at the Si / water interface are about 6dB). In the context of integration, it is interesting for mechanical impedance matching to use photosensitive materials such as SU-8 so that patterns may be obtained. Nanocomposite materials based on SU-8 mixed with nanoparticles having adequate impedances were fabricated. These new materials are characterized in terms of their acoustic velocity, impedance and attenuation. For this, the nanocomposite layers are deposited on the substrate by spin coating to obtain a thickness of about 10 μm, in order to separate acoustic echoes from the material (even if λ/4 layer thickness is lower than 1 μm). The insertion losses of the device immersed in water can be simulated as a function of frequency for a given reflection coefficient between the silicon substrate and the photoresist. The characteristics of some nanocomposites made with SU-8 and various concentrations of nanoparticles like Ti02, SrTiO3 or W have been determined.