Ultrasonic technology leverages high-frequency sound waves to achieve various physical and chemical effects, with key applications including:

1. Dispersion – Prevents sedimentation, agglomeration, and improves homogenisation of nanomaterials.

New energy materials: In polysilicon and graphene preparation, ultrasonic cavitation (20–40 kHz) breaks particle agglomeration, increases deposition rate by 30%, enhances purity, and reduces energy consumption by 40%.

Electronic and magnetic materials: High-frequency ultrasound effectively disperses ultrafine soft magnetic powders (e.g., ferrite nanoparticles), preventing agglomeration and improving magnetic permeability.

Pigment dispersion: Breaks up organic/inorganic pigment agglomerates via micro-jets from cavitation, improving colour strength and gloss in automotive paints and printing inks.

2. Stirring/Mixing – Enhances emulsification, dispersion, deaeration, and accelerates reactions.

Improves mass transfer and continuously activates catalyst surfaces via cavitation (e.g., nickel powder catalysed olefin hydrogenation with reaction rates increased by up to 10⁵ times).

3. Extraction – Improves efficiency in isolating active components.

Plant polysaccharides and essential oils: Disrupts cell walls, increasing extraction yield (e.g., Ophiopogon japonicus polysaccharides up to 1.99%) and shortening process time to minutes, while preserving heat-sensitive compounds like rose oil.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM): Increases dissolution rates of flavonoids and saponins by 30–50% while reducing organic solvent use.

Food industry: Extracts tea polyphenols and propolis flavonoids under low-temperature conditions, preserving nutrient integrity.

4. Emulsification – Mixes immiscible liquids efficiently.

Biopharmaceuticals: Produces microemulsions and nanoemulsions for encapsulating hydrophobic drugs, improving solubility, bioavailability, and enabling targeted/sustained release.

Chemical materials: Emulsifies water-oil mixtures, resins, pigments, and additives for producing water-based coatings, printing inks, and inkjet fluids, enhancing performance and stability.

5. Cell Disruption – Precisely releases bioactive substances.

Protein extraction: Breaks cell walls to release intracellular proteins for purification and functional studies.

This technology offers efficient, low-temperature, and solvent-saving solutions across multiple high-tech and industrial sectors.