Multiferroic behavior of lanthanum orthoferrite (LaFeO3)

Abstract LaFeO 3 was prepared by solid state reaction method using Fe 2 O 3 and La 2 O 3 as starting materials. The crystallographic phase of the LaFeO 3 has been confirmed by X-ray diffractograms. Magnetic mass susceptibilities ( χ m ) of the sample at different magnetic fields have been measured in the temperature range of 300–14 K. Thermal variations of χ m and the observed ac magnetic hysteresis loop indicate the presence of magnetic ordering in LaFeO 3 . Ferroelectric hysteresis loop observed at room temperature indicates the presence of ferroelectric ordering in LaFeO 3 . Measured values of dielectric constant in the presence and absence of magnetic field confirmed that LaFeO 3 is multiferroic.