The study of chemical effects of ultrasound is a rapidly growing research area
(1–7). Some of the most important recent aspects of sonochemistry have been
its applications in the synthesis and modification of both organic and inorganic
materials (8–12). High-intensity ultrasound can induce a wide range of chemical
and physical consequences. The chemical effects of ultrasound fall into three
areas: homogeneous sonochemistry of liquids, heterogeneous sonochemistry
of liquid-liquid or liquid-solid systems, and sonocatalysis (which overlaps the
first two). Applications of ultrasound to materials chemistry are found in all
of these categories. Physical effects of high-intensity ultrasound, which often
have chemical consequences, include enhanced mass transport, emulsification,
bulk thermal heating, and a variety of effects on solids.