A luminescence ferroelectric oxide, Na(0.5)Bi(2.5)Nb2O9 (NBN), system with bismuth layer structure introduced by lanthanide ion (Er(3+)) has been demonstrated to exhibit reversible, high-contrast luminescence modulation (95%) and excellent fatigue resistance based on visible-light-driven photochromism (407 nm or sunlight). The coloration and decoloration process can be effectively read out by dual modes, upconversion and downshifting, and reversibly converted between green and dark gray by alternating visible light or sunlight irradiation and thermal stimulus. The luminescence modulation degree upon photochromic reactions is strongly dependent upon irradiation light wavelength and irradiation time. After undergoing several cycles, there are no significant degradations, showing high reversibility. Considering its high-contrast photoswitchable luminescence feature and intrinsic ferroelectricity of NBN host, NBN-based multifunctional materials can be suggested as a promising candidate for new potentials in photonic storage and optoelectronic multifunctional devices.

Er/Yb co-doped NBN photochromics exhibit excellent luminescence readout capability by using a two-photon absorption mode with extremely low destruction on information recording.

The photoluminescence of Pr doped (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3 ferroelectric ceramics prepared by conventional solid-state reaction were investigated. A bright red emission is observed at room temperature, which ascribed to 1D2→3H4 transition. The excitation bands are mainly located at 440 ∼ 505 nm, which is adaptable to the emission band of commercial blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) chips. The optimal emission intensity was also obtained when Pr doping level was 0.003 mol. Meanwhile, the enhanced ferroelectric properties were obtained by Pr doping. The results show that Pr doped (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3 ceramics as a multifunctional material may be useful for white LEDs, sensor, and optical-electro integration.

High luminescent switching contrast of photochromic materials is extremely important in improving the sensitivity and resolution of optical switches and high-density optical data storage devices. To date, conventional methods, such as tuning absorption and emission bands based on electron or resonance energy transfer mechanisms in well-known organic photochromic molecules or compounds, have routinely been adopted to tune luminescent switching behavior. However, these strategies and mechanisms are not effectively applied to luminescence switching in inorganic materials because their crystal structures differ strongly from those of organic materials. In this paper, we report a new method to significantly tune the luminescent switching contrast by modifying the excitation energy of luminescent centers in a newly synthesized photochromism material: NaBiTiO:Re (Re = Sm, Pr, Er). A significant enhancement of luminescence switching contrast was achieved when the luminescent centers were excited by low energy photons at a given irradiation wavelength, intensity, and time, compared with high excitation energy photons. The trend "the lower the excitation energy, the higher the luminescence switching contrast" is universal in different rare earth ion-doped NaBiTiO ferroelectrics. The changes in the luminescent switching contrast based on excitation energy are ascribed to nonradiative energy transfer from the luminescent center to the color center by dipole-dipole interactions according to Dexter theory. This possible utilization of excitation energy at lower energy levels is usually less destructive to both information recording and the recording material itself during luminescent readout processes while achieving higher luminescence switching contrast.

A kind of new photosensitive material, Sm doped K0.5Na0.5NbO3 (KNN) ceramics, exhibits excellent photochromism and reversible luminescence switching properties.