Understanding the atomic-scale structural dynamics that enable ultrahigh piezoelectric responses in lead-free piezoceramics remains a central challenge in materials science. Here, we employ in situ electric field pair distribution function (PDF) analysis to elucidate the local structural origin of a KNN-based piezoceramic with a nominal composition of 0.964K0.5Na0.5Nb0.965Sb0.035O3–0.03(Bi0.5Na0.5)0.9(Ga0.5Li0.5)0.1ZrO3–0.006BiFeO3 that has an exceptional piezoelectricity coefficient (d33 > 500 pC/N). Combined Rietveld refinement, PDF fitting, and reverse Monte Carlo simulations revealed the coexistence of long-range tetragonal and orthorhombic phases with local c-type monoclinic symmetry. In situ electric field PDF analyses indicated a reversible polarization rotation between the <001>PC and <110>PC directions via a monoclinic plane, with a critical switching field of approximately 0.4 kV/mm. These findings establish polarization rotation, rather than abrupt phase transitions, as the governing mechanism for the enhanced piezoresponse, providing a structural design principle for next-generation lead-free piezoelectrics.
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Open Access
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Journal of Materiomics 2026, 12(1)
Published: 01 October 2025
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