High Efficiency and Low Distortion Photoacoustic Effect in 3D Graphene Sponge

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a highly efficient, wavelength-independent photoacoustic effect in 3D graphene sponge, enabling advanced sound and ultrasound control for diverse technological applications.

Contribution

It reports a novel photothermoacoustic mechanism in 3D graphene sponge that achieves high efficiency light-to-sound conversion across a broad spectrum.

Findings

High efficiency light sound conversion from infrared to ultraviolet

Successful demonstration of a graphene sponge loudspeaker

Potential applications in medical devices and high-fidelity sound systems

Abstract

The conversion of light in sound plays a crucial role in spectroscopy, applied physics, and technology. In this paper, light sound conversion in 3D graphene sponge through a photothermoacoustic mechanism is reported. It is shown that the unique combination of mechanical, optical, and thermodynamic properties of graphene assembled in a 3D sponge structure allows an unprecedented high efficiency conversion independent of light wavelength from infrared to ultraviolet. As a first application of this effect, a photothermal based graphene sponge loudspeaker is demonstrated, providing a full digital operation for frequencies from acoustic to ultrasound. The present results suggest a new pathway for light generation and control of sound and ultrasound signals potentially usable in a variety of new technological applications from high fidelity loudspeaker and radiation detectors to medical devices.