Transparent ionic conduction speakers involve the latest technology. It’s been only a few years since they became available to the public. A couple of Harvard University researchers developed an application of ionic conductivity by designing a clear artificial muscle that produces sounds spanning the complete audible spectrum.
Transparent Ionic Conduction Speakers: the Process
The composition of a transparent ionic conduction speaker is the following: a thin sheet of rubber placed between two layers of saltwater gel. In it, a high-voltage signal passes through the surfaces and across the layers, forcing the rubber to contract and vibrate. When this process is over, a sound emerges. In addition, this sound spreads through the whole audible spectrum. This description proves that electrical charges carried by ions are possible in fast-moving and high-voltage devices.
The Pros and the Cons
Ionic conductors have many advantages and they can easily replace some electronic systems. First, they can stretch without an increase in resistivity. Second, these devices are clear enough that people can employ them in optical applications. Thirdly, the gels used as electrolytes in ionic conductors are biocompatible. All these can lead us to the conclusion that experts could potentially integrate ionic conductors into biological systems such as the human skin and artificial muscles.
Transparent Ionic Conduction Speakers and the Body
Ionic systems can mimic a lot of the human body functions. For instance, they can sense a signal, conduct a it, and generate movement. The transparent ionic conduction speaker is widely popular in robotics and mobile computing, as well as in optics fields. Producing sounds across the whole audible spectrum requires both high-voltage and high-speed actuation. In this case, these speakers reach high-voltage by squeezing the rubber layer, just as they obtain high-speed actuation by the generation of a quick vibration.
The downside? High-voltages can cause electrochemical reactions in ionic materials. When this happens, gases produce and, thus, the material easily burns. Moreover, ions are large, so they tend to move rather slowly through the circuit.
If high-tech isn’t for you…
As mentioned in the introduction, transparent ionic conduction speakers are an example of some of the most advanced technology. Because of this, they have a very specific purpose and use. If you’re looking for something much more traditional, try learning from digital, electrodynamic, full-range, mid-range, woofer, subwoofer, tweeter, and coaxial speakers. You can also consult piezoelectric, magnetostatic, and magnetostrictive, and planar magnetic ones. You can, too, delve into flat-panel loudspeakers, such as ribbon and electrostatic. Two other options include bending wave and air-motion speakers.
The possibilities are endless: find the one that suits your needs!
