Electrocaloric effect and luminescence properties of lanthanide doped (Na1/2Bi1/2)TiO3 lead free materials

Polycrystalline lead-free Sodium Bismuth Titanate (NBT) ferroelectric ceramics doped with rare earth (RE) element are prepared using solid state reaction method. Optical, ferroelectric, and electrocaloric properties were investigated. The introduction of RE3+ ions in the NBT host lattice shows different light emissions over the wavelength range from visible to near infrared region. The ferroelectric P-E hysteresis loops exhibit an antiferroelectric-like character near room temperature indicating possible existence of a morphotropic phase boundary. The enhanced electrocaloric response was observed in a broad temperature range due to nearly merged phase transitions. Coexistence of optical and electrocaloric properties is very promising for photonics or optoelectronic device applications. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.