Preparation and electromechanical properties of a piezoelectric ceramic dome-like actuator with d31 gradients

► A novel monolithic piezoelectric dome-like actuator with d31 gradients was developed by a traditional ceramics process. ► By observing the resonant frequency of the actuator, we identified three resonant modes: the flexural, radial, and thickness modes. ► Under an applied electric field of 400 V/mm, the axial displacement of the 1-mm thick, 28-mm radius dome-like actuator is about 30 μm.