Pr 3 + photoluminescence in ferroelectric (Ba0.77Ca0.23)TiO3 ceramics: Sensitive to polarization and phase transitions

We reported in this study that the photoluminescence (PL) spectra of (Ba0.77Ca0.23)TiO3:Pr3+ were sensitive to both polarization and phase transitions of the ferroelectric ceramics. Comparing with the unpoled sample, all the red emissions under different temperatures of 50to300K increase about 30% for the poled 0.1mol% Pr3+-doped ceramic. Obvious peaks around 100K for the red and blue emission intensities of Pr3+ ions were found when the ceramic passed through the orthorhombic-tetragonal phase transition, and a step decrease in the red emission intensity occurs around the tetragonal-cubic transition. Both polarization and phase transition effects on the Pr3+ PL were ascribed to local environmental changes of Pr3+ ions in the (Ba0.77Ca0.23)TiO3 ceramic.