Comprehensive investigation of Er2O3 doped (Li,K,Na)NbO3 ceramics rendering potential application in novel multifunctional devices

•Er doped KNNLN ceramics were prepared.•The ferro/piezoelectric properties were measured.•UC PL properties varied with different Er content.

Multifunctional luminescent materials based on rare earth doped ferro-/piezoelectrics have attracted much attention due to their potential applications in novel multifunctional devices. Herein, we choose Li modified (K0.49Na0.51)NbO3 system benefitting from both of the effect of morphotropic phase boundary and polymorphic phase transition as the target materials, and systematically studied the influence of the doping of Er3+ on the phase structure, composition, up-conversion photoluminescence property and so forth. A significantly enhanced ferro-/piezoelectric behavior had been achieved in 0.5% Er2O3 doped (Li,K,Na)NbO3 ceramic. Our results reveal that in addition to the admirable intrinsic piezoelectric properties of (Li,K,Na)NbO3 ceramic, the donor doping behavior of Er3+ could enhance the ferro-/piezoelectric properties and obviously improve the up-conversion photoluminescence property of the matrix materials. These findings show great potential of Er3+ doped (Li,K,Na)NbO3 materials a future application in novel multifunctional devices.