Tunable bandpass filters using a defective phononic crystal shunted to synthetic negative capacitance for longitudinal waves

This study illustrates the successful achievement of tunable defect bands in one-dimensional defective phononic crystals (PnCs) through the incorporation of piezoelectric defects with synthetic negative capacitances (SNCs) for the first time. The efficacy of SNCs in creating tunable bandpass filters across a broad frequency range is thoroughly examined using the proposed analytical and numerical models. A newly developed electroelastically coupled transfer matrix that incorporates SNCs is presented, considering either series or parallel connection between bimorph piezoelectric elements. Defect band and transmittance analyses are conducted using the transfer matrix and S-parameter methods. Two key findings emerge from this investigation. First, when the total equivalent capacitance of the bimorph piezoelectric elements and SNC becomes zero, the defect band representing the point-symmetric defect-mode shape can be customized throughout the entire phononic bandgap. Second, the constant transmittance value, resembling short-circuit conditions, highlights the remarkable ability of SNCs to tune defect bands without energy dissipation, paving the way for fully tunable bandpass filters. To propel this research forward, future investigations could explore expanding the design space with double defects, adopting enhanced modeling techniques to account for lateral and shear effects, developing a control algorithm for the automatic optimization of SNC values in actively tunable bandpass filters, and incorporating artificial intelligence into design methods for piezoelectric defects with electrical connections.