Packaging of an Iron-Gallium Nanowire Acoustic Sensor

A bio-inspired package has been developed for encapsulating an underwater, iron-gallium nanowire, acoustic sensor. The package, based on the hearing mechanisms in aquatic animals, will ensure reliability in the underwater environments while not interfering with the transmission of sound. The package is designed to contain the nanowire sensor in a fluid medium, leaving the wires free to move. Materials matching the acoustic impedance of seawater are incorporated to allow sound to penetrate the package with little or no attenuation. Acoustic properties of various materials were investigated for this application. A fabrication process for the package is presented. The fabrication incorporates a room temperature soldering process that will not harm the sensor during the bonding of package components