This letter reports on the use of frequency sweeps to probe acoustic cavitation activity generated by high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). Unprecedented enhancement and quenching of HIFU cavitation activity were observed when short frequency sweep gaps were applied in negative and positive directions, respectively. It was revealed that irrespective of the frequency gap, it is the direction and frequency sweep rate that govern the cavitation activity. These effects are related to the response of bubbles generated by the starting frequency to the direction of the frequency sweep, and the influence of the sweep rate on growth and coalescence of bubbles, which in turn affects the active bubble population. These findings are relevant for the use of HIFU in chemical and therapeutic applications, where greater control of cavitation bubble population is critical.

An attractive possibility for influencing microstructures of electrodeposited coatings, and therefore their properties such as hardness, brightness etc. resides in the use of ultrasound. This method is particularly competitive as it may result in a reduction of chemical use, or even in the complete suppression of chemicals. This paper deals with silver coatings depending strongly on current density, with two main categories identified by X-ray diffraction: one poorly structured and the other following the [110] orientation. It is interesting to note that, while changing from still to mechanically stirred conditions, the value of the current density threshold moves from 2.5mAcm to 5mAcm. When ultrasound is used (575kHz or 20kHz), this coating microstructure modification threshold occurs at higher current density values when coatings are produced under sonication, while agitation is kept constant. In both cases, the shift is about 15mAcm. It is noteworthy that silver electrodeposits elaborated under 20kHz ultrasound conditions appear to be less oriented than those obtained under high frequency conditions.

Silver coatings structures identified by XRD vs. current density reveal two main behaviours: one barely structured and the other with a preferential [110] orientation. Changing from quiet to mechanically stirred conditions, the current density threshold moves from 2.5mA/cm² to 5mA/cm². The threshold shift to 15 mA/cm² under sonication (575 kHz or 20 kHz), while agitation check with calibration is kept constant. Using ultrasound, it is possible to modify significantly the coatings without relying on chemical additives. In the case of silver-tin alloys, the current density variations coupled to the use of ultrasound lead to significant variations (color, crystalline composition and alloy composition). For an equivalent hydrodynamic agitation, silver is predominant at low current density and tin prevails at higher ones. If low frequency ultrasound is applied, Ag 3 Sn replaces the tin, and for high frequency, the coating is formed by an intermetallic compound of tin and silver irrespective of the current density.

Nowadays, 40% of the world wide used energy is provided by electric power and this share should reach about 60% by 2040. For environmental reasons, it is crucial to ensure low dissipation loss in power electronic devices by optimizing energy conversion. In the field of renewable energies and automotive electronics, possible energy savings are estimated to be between 20 and 35%. For that purpose, innovative power components and modules are required, with a growing interest for fast and simple joining processes in their fabrication management, in the case for example of the assembly of large-size double-side cooled modules. Several options are possible, including free sintering of metallic pastes or electroforming welding. In all cases, this requires a great control of both surfaces to be joined, mostly prepared by electrodeposition (microstructure, porosity, alloy composition). But the final properties of electrodeposited coatings are strongly dependent of the first nucleation steps, which influence the whole layer structure. In this frame, the modelling of a nucleation process followed by diffusion limited three dimensional growth is an area of promising interest. The study of potentiostatic current transients is a relevant methodology, allowing the determination of several parameters such as nucleation rate, nucleus density, and number of active sites. Different competing models are available, such as Scharifker and Hills [1] and Scharifker and Mostany [2]. By using the model method i.e. the identification of the model parameters by error minimization, it is possible to reach an accurate description of the first layer growth in the case of different metals such as silver and copper. Nevertheless, little attention have been paid to changes in hydrodynamic conditions, for example in the study of current response under forced convection [3]. The present work describes the extension of the model method to the modelling of the first steps of nucleation growth in the case of a sample exposed to an ultrasonic irradiation, which was compared to forced convection induced by a rotating disc electrode at the very same agitation level (equivalent velocity [4,5]. Eventually, the case of electrodeposited alloys was examined, as a function of their Brenner classifications (anomalous and normal codeposition [6]). The limitation of the data processing by the numerical approach are also discussed. [1] Scharifker, B. & Hills, G. Theoretical and experimental studies of multiple nucleation. Electrochimica Acta 28, 879–889 (1983). [2] Scharifker, B. R. & Mostany, J. Three-dimensional nucleation with diffusion controlled growth. J. Electroanal. Chem. Interfacial Electrochem. 177, 13–23 (1984). [3] Hyde, M. E. & Compton, R. G. Theoretical and experimental aspects of electrodeposition under hydrodynamic conditions. J. Electroanal. Chem. 581, 224–230 (2005). [4] Pollet B.G., Hihn J.-Y., Doche M.L, Mandroyan A., Lorimer J.P., Mason T.J “Transport limited currents close to an ultrasonic horn: equivalent flow velocity determination”, Journal of Electrochemistry Society, 154(10), E131-E138, (2007) [5] A. Nevers, L. Hallez, F. Touyeras, J.-Y. Hihn, Effect of ultrasound on silver electrodeposition: Crystalline structure modification, Ultrason. Sonochem. 40 (2018) [6] Brenner, A. Electrodeposition of alloys. Principles and practice Volume II, (1963). Figure 1