High transmittance and optical storage behaviors in Tb3+ doped K0.5Na0.5NbO3-based ferroelectric materials

In this work, Tb doped (K0.5Na0.5)NbO3 transparent ceramics were fabricated by a solid-state reaction method. The prepared samples not only exhibit high transmittance (67 % in visible light region and 73 % in IR region), but also show tunable transmittance ratio and luminescent modulation behavior via photochromic reactions. Specifically, the optical transmittance and luminescence intensity can be reversibly modulated by using 407 nm irradiation (20 s) and thermal stimulus (150 degrees C for 10 s) interchangeably. Their maximum transmittance and luminescence switching contrast are 26.29 % and 92.67 %, respectively. In addition, the various applications of optical data storage including process of data writing/erasing and optical marking have been depicted. The (K0.5Na0.5)NbO3: xTb transparent ceramics as a novel class of solid-state multifunctional materials would offer the prospect of enlarging the applications of photochromic ferroelectric materials.

Automated summary

Tb-doped (K0.5Na0.5)NbO3 transparent ceramics were successfully fabricated with high transmittance and tunable optical properties. The ceramics exhibit reversible modulation of transmittance and luminescence, showing potential in optical data storage and expanding the applications of photochromic ferroelectric materials.