Creating Eco-Friendly High-Frequency Ultrasound Transducers with BNT-BT Film

Industry: The paper focuses on the field of medical imaging and materials science, specifically in the development and characterization of high-frequency ultrasound transducers using lead-free materials. This is relevant for industries involved in non-invasive medical diagnostics and advanced materials engineering.

Challenge: The main challenge addressed in the paper is the development of high-frequency ultrasound transducers that are environmentally friendly by being lead-free. Traditional piezoelectric materials used in ultrasound transducers often contain lead, which poses environmental and health risks. The researchers aim to create a high-performance ultrasound transducer without the use of harmful lead-based materials.

Extraordinary Aspects of the Paper: This paper stands out because it successfully fabricates a high-frequency (34 MHz) ultrasound transducer using a lead-free BNT-BT thick film produced by a tape-casting method. The transducer demonstrated promising performance with good sensitivity and resolution, which are crucial for medical imaging applications. This represents a significant step forward in creating environmentally friendly medical devices without compromising performance.

Equipment & Sensors Used:

GaGe Digitizer: CompuScope 12400, 12-bit, 400 MHz sampling frequency, from GaGe Applied Technologies.

Transducer: High-frequency plane ultrasound transducer made from BNT-BT thick film.

Testing Equipment: Dual pulser/receiver (JSR Ultrasonics DPR 500). 

Oscilloscope (InfiniiVision DSO-X 3104A, Keysight Technologies).

Quasi-static d33 testing device (ZJ-1, CAS).

Electric impedance analyzer (HP 4294A, Agilent Technologies).

Ferroelectric testing system (TF Analyzer 2000, aixACCT).

SEM (Quanta 250 FEG, FEI).

XRD meter (D/MAX-2400, Rigaku).