The rare-earth oxides (Pr2O3 and Yb2O3)-doped (K0.4Na0.6)(0.95)Li-0.05(Nb0.95Sb0.05)O-3 [KNNLS] ceramics were prepared using conventional solid sintering method for improving the ferroelectric properties of KNN-based ceramics. The effects of rare-earth oxides on the crystal structure, microstructure, dielectric and ferroelectric properties of the ceramics were systematically studied. The Curie temperature (T-c) decreases slightly with the increase of Pr2O3 and Yb2O3. The results show that Pr2O3 and Yb2O3 can greatly enhance the ferroelectric properties of KNNLS. The KNNLS-0.1 mol% Pr2O3 ceramic and KNNLS-0.1 mol% Yb2O3 ceramic show excellent ferroelectric properties: P-r = 42.8 mu C/cm(2), E-c = 7.2 kV/cm and P-r = 37.3 mu C/cm(2), E-c = 12.8 kV/cm, respectively. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.