PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a piezoelectric element whose detection accuracy has been upgraded more greatly than conventional one, an acoustic probe including the piezoelectric element, and a photoacoustic device.SOLUTION: A piezoelectric element 10 includes a piezoelectric substance 11 that receives an acoustic wave and converts the received acoustic wave into a voltage, positive and negative electrodes 12 that sandwich the piezoelectric substance 11, and a shading sound transmission material 13 shields the piezoelectric substance 11, transmits the acoustic wave to such an extent that a piezoelectric effect exerted in the piezoelectric substance 11 due to the acoustic wave can be measured, and suppresses a pyroelectric effect, which is exerted in the piezoelectric substance 11 due to irradiation of light, by attenuating the light.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1COPYRIGHT: (C)2016,JPO&INPIT【課題】従来よりも検出精度を高めた圧電素子、およびその圧電素子を備えた音波プローブおよび光音響装置を得ること。【解決手段】圧電素子10は、音波を受波し、受波した音波を電圧に変換する圧電体11と;圧電体11を挟む正負電極12と;圧電体11を覆う遮光透音材13であって、前記音波により圧電体11に生ずる圧電効果が測定可能な程度に前記音波を透過させ、光の照射により圧電体11に生ずる焦電効果を、前記光を減衰することにより抑制する遮光透音材13とを備える。【選択図】図1
