Piezoelectric Materials in Medical Ultrasound: A Comprehensive Review From Fundamentals to Translational Prospects

Piezoelectric materials are the core functional components in electrotechnical systems and have been widely used in electronics and information, aerospace, industrial manufacturing, energy and environmental, especially medical healthcare. In biomedical ultrasound, piezoelectric materials serve as the active elements of ultrasound transducers, enabling acoustic generation, and reception for diagnosis, therapy and physiological monitoring. In this work, we provide a comprehensive overview of the piezoelectric materials for medical ultrasound, covering fundamental piezoelectric principles, representative material families, transducer architectures, and biomedical applications. Particular emphasis is placed on the relationships among material properties, device performance, and application‐specific requirements. Additionally, numerous applications in medical ultrasound diagnosis, therapy, and monitoring are presented. Finally, perspectives and opportunities are also highlighted. This review aims to provide a materials‐centered perspective on the development of piezoelectric ultrasound transducers and the translational prospects in medical ultrasound.