Development of a lead-free, high-frequency ultrasound transducer with broad bandwidth and enhanced pulse-echo response, employing β-Ni(OH)2/PVDF-TrFE piezoelectric composite

Piezoelectric composite-based high-frequency ultrasound transducers (USTs) have gained significant prominence as a leading and effective tool in non-invasive medical diagnosis, non-destructive testing and diverse industrial applications. In this study, we present the fabrication of a lead-free, high-frequency ultrasound transducer (P-UST), having a very simple and unique assembly procedure. To achieve this, we employed PVDF-TrFE based piezoelectric composite thin film (NTr5) integrated with a transition metal hydroxide (β-Ni(OH)2 nanoplates) and demonstrated its outstanding performance, thereby showcasing its potential in various applications. The composite exhibited exceptional β-phase crystallization, reaching impressive maximum value of 90.04%, owing to the favorable interaction between electrostatic ions and dipoles, along with the presence of strong surface polarization. Upon analysis, remarkable piezoelectric (d33∼50.22 pm/V) and ferroelectric properties were observed in the composite material, accompanied by significant enhancement in surface roughness. Here, the piezoelectric property's impact on UST output is well-explained using Maxwell's equation. P-UST, being a versatile system, is capable of generating and receiving pulse signals. By conducting a pulse-echo test on an aluminium block with ultrasound gel, we achieved a peak-to-peak output voltage of 5.19 V, surpassing the output voltage magnitude of any previously reported UST in this field. The Fast Fourier transformed data of the voltage output revealed an impressive −6 dB bandwidth of 51.22 MHz (102.4%) with a high central frequency of 50.01 MHz. Hence, our P-UST's exceptionally high central frequency promises significantly enhanced ultrasound image resolution, which expands the potential for highly accurate medical assessments for advanced healthcare outcomes and improving patient well-being.