Electrical and optical properties of Nd3+-doped Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 ferroelectric single crystal

Sodium bismuth titanate Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 (NBT) single crystal doped with Nd3+ was grown by a top-seeded solution growth method. Powder x-ray diffraction revealed a pure perovskite structure with the rhombohedral phase. We found that the dielectric and ferroelectric properties were enhanced by the Nd3+ dopant. After poling along the [1?1?1] direction, transmittance was enhanced dramatically. The Sellmeier dispersion equation and energy band gaps were obtained. The absorption band around 808?nm has high full-width at half-maximum and large absorption cross-section, which is suitable for AlGaAs diode-laser pumping. A strong emission transition band of Nd3+ at around 1066?nm was observed; a long radiation lifetime 324??s shows a low quenching effect. These results indicate that Nd3+-doped NBT crystal could be applied in photonic or integrated optoelectronic devices as a multi-functional crystal.