Narrowband transmission of some acoustic metamaterials limits their device applications. Here, we propose and demonstrate a broadband acoustic metamaterial comprising a space coiling structure by introducing an impedance-matching layer between air and the metamaterial. The impedance-matching layer is achieved by especially designing the parameters of the space coiling structure to form a gradient index. It is found that the metamaterial with the impedance matching layers substantially improves energy transmission in the frequency range of 2–6 kHz. We also show the capability of such a metamaterial to modulate the phase of acoustic waves with high energy transmission up to at least 60%.
A concept of hybrid local piezoelectric and electrical conductive functions for improving airborne sound absorption is proposed and demonstrated in composite foam made of porous polar polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) mixed with conductive single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT). According to our hybrid material function design, the local piezoelectric effect in the PVDF matrix with the polar structure and the electrical resistive loss of SWCNT enhanced sound energy conversion to electrical energy and subsequently to thermal energy, respectively, in addition to the other known sound absorption mechanisms in a porous material. It is found that the overall energy conversion and hence the sound absorption performance are maximized when the concentration of the SWCNT is around the conductivity percolation threshold. For the optimal composition of PVDF/5 wt. % SWCNT, a sound reduction coefficient of larger than 0.58 has been obtained, with a high sound absorption coefficient higher than 50% at 600 Hz, showing their great values for passive noise mitigation even at a low frequency.
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