Strong photoluminescence and good electrical properties in Eu-modified SrBi2Nb2O9 multifunctional ceramics

Abstract

Bismuth layer-structured ferroelectric (BLSFs) ceramics of Sr1−xEux Bi2Nb2O9 (SBT-xEu, x=0.000, 0.002, 0.004, 0.006) were prepared by a conventional solid-state reaction method. All the samples have a bismuth oxide layered structure with a dense microstructure. The ferroelectric, piezoelectric, dielectric and optical properties of the ceramics were investigated. After Eu3+ doping, samples show a bright red photoluminescence upon blue light excitation of the 400–500nm. Upon the excitation of 465nm light, the materials have two intense emission bands peaking around 593nm (yellow) and 616nm (red). Meanwhile, good electrical properties with large piezoelectric constant d33 of 14pC/N and large remnant polarization 2Pr of 11.97μC/cm2 are obtained at x=0.006. Moreover, this material has a high Curie temperature (Tc=429°C) and high resistivity, which makes the material resistant to thermal depolarization up to its Curie temperature. This feature indicates that the SBN-xEu ceramics have a latent use in high temperature applications.