The　impact　of　different　dimensional　parameters　of　the　macro　fiber　composite　(MFC)　sensor　on　its　response　performance　was　investigated　using　finite　element　simulation　software.　The　frequency　domain　analysis　of　performance　parameters,　such　as　the　electromechanical　coupling　coefficient,　center　frequency,　and　resonant　frequency　characteristic　relationship,　was　carried　out　using　different　simulation　models.　Based　on　the　simulation　results,　a　MFC　sensor　suitable　for　acoustic　detection　was　designed　and　customized.　Then　an　ultrasonic　guided　wave　detection　system　for　lithium-ion　batteries　using　the　optimized　MFC　sensor　was　established.　And　the　intrinsic　relationship　between　the　state　of　charge　(SOC)　and　guided　wave　propagation　properties　was　experimentally　investigated.　The　results　showed　that　the　time　of　flight,　signal　amplitude,　and　SOC　exhibited　an　approximately　linear　distribution,　indicating　the　feasibility　and　reliability　of　characterizing　the　SOC　of　lithium-ion　batteries　based　on　MFC　sensors.　The　mapping　relationship　between　the　state　of　charge　and　the　propagation　characteristics　provides　a　foundation　for　the　nondestructive　evaluation　and　quantitative　estimation　of　the　state　characteristics　of　lithium-ion　batteries.　©　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　license　to　Springer　Nature　Switzerland　AG　2023.