Remanent-polarization-induced enhancement of photoluminescence in Pr3+-doped lead-free ferroelectric (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3 ceramic

We found that ferroelectric remanent polarization can remarkably enhance the photoluminescence intensity of Pr3+-doped lead-free (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3 ceramics. An enhancement in photoluminescence intensity of ∼35% was obtained in the 0.5 mol. % Pr3+-doped sample, attributed to the decrease of crystal symmetry that occurs in poled ferroelectric ceramics. Our results reveal the great potential to enhance the photoluminescence intensity in rare-earth doped ferroelectric ceramics through ferroelectric polarization and to monitor the ferroelectric remanent polarization strength through measuring the photoluminescence spectra. We also found that the threshold of Pr3+ concentration quenching increased in the poled Pr3+-doped lead-free (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3 ceramic sample.