Symmetry Reduction Unlocks Giant Piezoelectricity Through Emergent Domain Complexity in Ferroelectrics
ABSTRACT Symmetry is a fundamental principle across diverse disciplines, from physics to philosophy. In ferroelectric materials, the symmetry breaking during paraelectric‐to‐ferroelectric phase transitions dictates the formation of spontaneous polarization and distinct domain patterns, suggesting a deep coupling of crystallographic symmetry and functional microstructure. Here, we propose a theoretical framework inspired by the Taoist philosophy to understand the correlation between crystallographic symmetry, domain pattern, and piezoelectric properties. By using BiFeO 3 as a model system, we categorize ferroelectric phases into “Yin‐Yang” (high symmetry), “Four‐Symbol” (intermediate), and “Bagua” (low symmetry) systems. Our obtained results revealed that as symmetry decreases, domain complexity increases, leading to a significant enhancement in electromechanical response. Specifically, the mixed‐phases BiFeO 3 sample, as the lowest symmetry system (“Bagua”), exhibits a zigzag‐style checkerboard domain pattern with converse piezoelectric coefficient (d 33 *) of ∼66.5 pm/V, which is 4.3 times larger than the tetragonal‐phase BiFeO 3 with a single domain pattern (“Yin‐Yang” system). Our work established a predictive link between crystallographic symmetry, emergent domain patterns, and functional properties, offering a novel symmetry‐based paradigm for engineering high‐performance piezoelectric materials and devices.
Authors
- Houbing Huang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8006-3495)
- Dingxin Wang
- Changqing Guo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6570-0962)
- Yuanyuan Fan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4077-5903)
- Jingli Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7563-6140)
- Yue Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0098-5359)
- Shujun J. Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6139-6887)
- Qimeng Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6453-7358)
- Rongzhen Gao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4303-6594)
- Shouzhe Dong
- Yi-Xiang Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4021-4228)
- Huayu Yang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8564-9713)
- L Yang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8364-6525)
- Ke Xu
- Ce-Wen Nan
- Shiyu Tang
- Wael Ben Taazayet
Institutions
- Beijing Institute of Technology (CN)
- City University of Hong Kong (HK)
- Zhuhai Institute of Advanced Technology (CN)
- State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing
- Tsinghua University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Advanced Functional Materials
- Published
- 2026-07-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.77158
- Primary Topic
- Ferroelectric and Piezoelectric Materials
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Natural Science Foundation of Beijing Municipality