Surface acoustic wave element

Abstract

A surface acoustic wave element includes a hard layer containing a composition component essentially consisting of at least one of diamond and a diamond-like carbon film, a piezoelectric layer formed on the hard layer, a silicon dioxide (SiO.sub.2) layer formed on the piezoelectric layer, and electrodes combined with the piezoelectric layer to perform electro-mechanical conversion. The surface acoustic wave element has a larger electro-mechanical coupling coefficient and a higher surface acoustic wave propagation velocity than does a conventional surface acoustic wave element having no silicon dioxide layer, thereby obtaining a surface acoustic wave element that can operate in a high-frequency range. In particular, the electro-mechanical coupling coefficient is increased. The SiO.sub.2 layer is an electric insulator and rarely reacts with moisture or acids. The SiO.sub.2 layer protects the piezoelectric layer and the electrodes from effects of the external environment, thereby providing a surface acoustic wave element having good high-frequency characteristics and a high resistance to adverse environments.