Hydrogel microphones for stealthy underwater listening

TL;DR: This hydrogel device responds with a transient modulation of electric double layers, resulting in an extraordinary sensitivity, which can detect static loads and air breezes from different angles, as well as underwater acoustic signals from 20 Hz to 3 kHz at amplitudes as low as 4 Pa.

Abstract: Exploring the abundant resources in the ocean requires underwater acoustic detectors with a high-sensitivity reception of low-frequency sound from greater distances and zero reflections. Here we address both challenges by integrating an easily deformable network of metal nanoparticles in a hydrogel matrix for use as a cavity-free microphone. Since metal nanoparticles can be densely implanted as inclusions, and can even be arranged in coherent arrays, this microphone can detect static loads and air breezes from different angles, as well as underwater acoustic signals from 20 Hz to 3 kHz at amplitudes as low as 4 Pa. Unlike dielectric capacitors or cavity-based microphones that respond to stimuli by deforming the device in thickness directions, this hydrogel device responds with a transient modulation of electric double layers, resulting in an extraordinary sensitivity (217 nF kPa−1 or 24 μC N−1 at a bias of 1.0 V) without using any signal amplification tools. Conventional ceramic SONAR suffers from large acoustic impedance mismatch with water, rendering them easily detectable. Here, Gao et al. report a new design using a hydrogel filled with stimuli-responsive metal nanoparticles, which detects low-frequency sound with a high-sensitivity and zero-reflection.