Smart Materials Used in Ultrasound Behave Like Water

A team of researchers is gaining new insight into the smart materials used in ultrasound technology, finding striking similarities with the behavior of water. They investigated a behavior of smart material called piezoelectricity, which is the interchange of mechanical energy with electrical energy. In piezoelectricity, applying an electric field to a material reorients dipoles within it; this is the key to the functionality of the material.