Chemical solution deposited lanthanide-doped bismuth titanate ferroelectric thin films with down-conversion or up-conversion photoluminescence properties

Abstract

We reported on the down-conversion or up-conversion photoluminescence with different colors in lanthanide-doped bismuth titanate thin films prepared by chemical solution deposition. The doping lanthanide ions included Eu3+, Pr3+, Er3+, Ho3+, and Tm3+ ions. The photoluminescence can be further enhanced by constructing the composite thin films with ZnO nanorods or ZnO thin layers. The thin films also showed improved ferroelectricity after co-doping with other ions such as W6+, Yb3+ ions. The emission mechanisms were discussed. The results suggest that the lanthanide-doped bismuth titanate thin films can find applications in new multifunctional photoluminescence ferroelectric thin-film devices.