Carbon nanotube-based transparent thin film acoustic actuators and sensors

Transparent thin film acoustic transducers that can effectively work as both acoustic actuators (speakers) and sensors (microphones) are developed in this study. The developed transducer consists of a piezoelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) thin film coated with compliant carbon nanotube (CNT) based transparent conductors, which are fabricated by CNT acid treatment and layer-by-layer nanoassembly based surface modification of the PVDF substrates. The developed thin film transducers show excellent acoustic response over a broadband frequency range, and have the advantages of being transparent, flexible, extremely thin, and lightweight. The developed transducers could make a significant impact on room acoustics by enabling windows, computer screens, touch panels and posters themselves to server as invisible speakers and microphones. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.