Two-Dimensional Phononic Crystal Based Sensor for Characterization of Mixtures and Heterogeneous Liquids

We show new approaches to developing acoustic liquid sensors based on phononic crystals. The proposed phononic crystal integrates fluidic elements. A solid block with periodic cylindrical holes contains a defect—a liquid-filled cylindrical cavity. We pay attention to acoustic excitation and the readout of the axisymmetric cylindrical resonator eigenmode of the liquid-filled defect in the middle of the phononic crystal structure. This mode solves the challenge of mechanical energy losses due to liquid viscosity. We also analyze the coupling effects between oscillations of liquid and solid systems and consider coupling issues between piezoelectric transducers and the liquid-filled cavity resonator. The numerical simulation of the propagation of acoustic waves through the phononic crystal sensor was carried out in COMSOL Multiphysics Software. The phononic crystal was made of stainless steel with mechanically drilled holes and was fabricated for experimental verification. We show that a tuning of the solid–liquid vibrational modes coupling is the key to an enhanced level of sensitivity to liquid properties. Besides (homogeneous) water–propanol mixtures, experimental studies were carried out on (disperse) water–fuel emulsions.