This article studies the microstructure and piezoelectric properties of low sintering temperature lead-free ceramics [Formula: see text]-doped with ZnO nanoparticles (noted as 0.48BZT-y, y is content of ZnO in wt%, y =0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 and 0.25). The obtained results of Raman scattering and dielectric measurements have confirmed that [Formula: see text] has occupied B site, to cause a deformation in the ABO3-type lattice of the 0.48BZT-y compounds. The 0.15 wt% ZnO-doped ceramic sintered at 1350[Formula: see text]C exhibited excellent piezoelectric parameters: [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. The obtained results indicate that the high-quality lead-free BZT–BCT ceramic could be successfully synthesized at a low sintering temperature of 1350[Formula: see text]C by doping an appropriated amount of ZnO.