High-contrast photochromic properties with reversible luminescence modulation behaviors in Ba3MgSi2O8:Sm3+ceramics

Inorganic ferroelectrics and robust oxide ceramic materials exhibiting high-contrast photochromic properties and reversible luminescence modulation play a significant role in multifunctional optoelectronic applications such as anti-counterfeiting, optical storage, and high-sensitivity optical switches applications. In this study, Ba3MgSi2O8: xSm3+ (x = 0, 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, 1% and 2%) (abbreviated as BMS: xSm3+) are obtained by high temperature sintering in a reducing atmosphere. The prepared BMS: 0.25%Sm3+ not only shows a high color contrast of 70.8% which is rarely reported in inorganic photochromic materials, but also exhibits a large luminescence modulation degree up to 80.0% which can be restored to the original state under heat treatment. Based on these advantages of BMS: 0.25%Sm3+, the applications in optical storage including the process of data writing/erasing are systematically depicted. The insights provided in this study will render an effective method, fostering the development of other inorganic photochromic materials.