The effect of Fe2O3-doping on the defect structure and piezoelectric properties of [Bi0.5Na0.5]TiO3 ceramics is studied by means of electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The results show that the Fe3+ functional centers are incorporated at the perovskite B-site, and clearly can be attributed to the formation of (Fe-Ti(')-V-O(center dot center dot))(center dot) defect complexes with charge compensating oxygen vacancies. Correspondingly, they act as acceptors which promotes materials "hardening.". (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3455888]